{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Riding "The Cat" for 35 years","description":"Today\u2019s guest is someone who\u2019s logged more miles on the backroads of Columbia County than most of us could count. Terry Hanson has been driving a school bus for the Magnolia School District for 35 years \u2014 and that\u2019s not counting the year he spent subbing before that. He drives Bus 72, known to the kids as the \u201cCat Bus,\u201d and in some ways it\u2019s a reflection of his career \u2014 reliable, steady, and still rolling strong.   Terry\u2019s day begins out in the Mt. Vernon community, where Lafayette County is practically in his backyard. From there, he heads down those familiar roads, past places like Frog Level \u2014 the original county seat of Columbia County \u2014 gathering his students one by one on the way into town. He\u2019s seen a lot of changes over the years: from cranking open doors by hand \u2014 which has given his right arm quite a workout \u2014 to the new high-tech buses with automatic transmissions, mounted tablets, cameras, and safety systems that make sure no child is ever left behind. And somewhere along the way, he\u2019s driven not just children, but the children of his first riders \u2014 which tells you something about how deeply rooted he is in this community. And many of those riders have grown up to become outstanding citizens, and some have become personal friends. It demonstrates the importance of sticking with an endeavor. Terry was recognized last June as one of a handful of district employees with over 30 years of service, and it\u2019s a safe bet he\u2019ll be honored again when this school year wraps up. So, buckle up and ride along as we hear the story of Terry Hanson \u2014 35 years behind the wheel, thousands of students safely carried, and a legacy of dedication that\u2019s pure Magnolia through and through. ","author_name":"Life in LA Today","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/460782","html":"