There in sunny Southern California, he'd acquired his share of toys, including two boats, a rare Panther sports car and a slick BMW. He also skied and enjoyed fanciful outings in Austria and Canada, where a helicopter brought him in to steep, fresh powder.īut as the story goes, the toys don't make the man and Minez found himself dissatisfied with life.

It was then that a lady friend invited him to Missoula to ski and clear his head.

While he didn't believe there was skiing in Montana, the invitation piqued his interest. “I was sort of going through a midlife crisis – I was 35 and it was one of those things,” said Minez. “Being in California, it's very materialistic. But I came here and it was completely opposite. While he didn't act on impulse, the loop in Minez's story suggests a dramatic change in lifestyles.

He left the Golden State for the less-than-sunny climate of Missoula, where he bought a piece of land and – of all things – the Arlee general store.īusiness at the general store didn't pan out, prompting Minez to take a job driving for the U.S Forest Service during the Yellowstone fires. When UPS called, he signed up, but the demanding schedule proved taxing.Īs one might guess, that's what led Minez to Mountain Line as a bus driver. Mass transit is more about timing than speed.īut unlike his stint with UPS, he would have to learn to slow down. “If you're 30 seconds early, you have to pull over and wait there,” he said.

“You can be late, but you can't be early. It was a whole different ballgame.”Ĭlad in a well-tied tie, Minez reflected on his career – how he started as a bus operator before receiving a promotion to operations supervisor. As such, he became the first certified transit operator in Montana, graduating as he did from a national program that was still new at the time. In his capacity as operations supervisor, Minez has trained more than 100 bus drivers, including most of those driving for Mountain Line. He also helped start the UDASH system at the University of Montana, which is now a staple of student transportation. “My favorite thing about working here over the years is being around people all the time, and I'm not stuck behind a desk,” Minez said. We're required to ride with every operator twice a year, so every day is different for me, and I've enjoyed it.” “I can jump on a bus and ride them around town.

Cowboy Steering Wheel Drivers