Bruce Bakke

Transit Supervisor

Bruce began work as a bus driver in October of 1980. He was also a phone representative in the Transit Information Center. He became a supervisor in the Transit Control Center, where he kept radio contact with bus drivers on their routes and he completed his career as a Transit Supervisor in the street operations department, monitoring day-to-day conditions, detouring routes when necessary and supervising drivers.

Bruce was most known for his work with the City of Maple Grove. For the last years of his career, Bruce worked closely with Maple Grove and supervised the service Metro Transit provides for the city by contract. He retired on Feb. 10, 2011, with 32 years of service. 

Tom Kotila, #2632

Rail Operator

Tom began driving bus at Snelling Garage in August 1973. He worked at Shingle Creek Garage, was at Northside Garage when it closed and at Heywood Garage when it opened. Tom finished 30 years of bus driving at Ruter Garage, but his transit career wasn't finished.

He moved to Rail Operations as one of the first operators on the Hiawatha light-rail system, and left his mark in helping with the start-up of light rail. Tom, known as Tom4 on the railroad, safety-tested the first four light-rail vehicles, putting them through technical tests and ensuring they met operational standards prior to carrying customers. He also was among the first class of operators to become instructors to future operators. Tom retired Jan. 25, 2012, with 38 years of service.

Diane Hehr, #1068

Bus Operator

Diane retired Jan. 4, 2012, from Heywood Garage. She had 32 years of service.

Bernadine Woodards, #545

Bus Operator

Bernadine retired Jan. 4, 2012, with 35 years of service.

She was a bus driver at Nicollet Garage. She spent her entire transit career at that location, except for a brief time when the garage was closed for renovation.

Bernie looks forward to retirement to spend time with her two children and grandchildren and to enjoy her love of gardening and travel.

David Jungwirth, #2840

Bus Operator

David retired Jan. 2, 2012, from East Metro Garage. He had 36 years of service.

Kenneth Zimanski, #2741

Bus Operator

Ken was born in London, England, and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He began his transit career in January 1972, driving Route 4. The first bus he drove, a GMC "Jimmy" #1399, currently resides at the Minnesota Transportation Museum.

He drove out of Northside for nearly three years then transferred to Snelling Garage, then finally to East Metro Garage when Snelling was closed. He retired after driving in St. Paul for 37 years. Within his 39 years of service, he posted 33 years and 8 months of safe driving. 

Ken retired Sept. 23, 2011, and plans to travel to England with his family to visit relatives. 

John Frederick, #879

Bus Operator

John retired from South Garage on Sept. 9, 2011, with more than 32 years of service. He was among the first group of drivers to begin work from the then brand-new South Garage upon its opening in 1980.

During his career, John received Metro Transit's Safe Operator Award 28 times.

He received the Outstanding Operator Award 20 times, qualifying him as an Elite Master Operator – one of only 26 Metro Transit employees to have attained that status.

Cecelia Blakey

Data Collector

Cecelia joined Metro Transit in April 1975. She retired Aug. 25, 2011, with 36 years, four months and seven days of service – all of them in the same job as a Data Collector.

Her accurate passenger counts helped Service Development make decisions about routing and which types of vehicles and levels of service were needed to match demand.

It is estimated that over the course of her career, she has counted more than 16 million passengers, equal to the populations of Iowa and Illinois combined.

Robert Horbach, #2626

Bus Operator

Robert retired Aug. 1, 2011, with 38 years of service. He ended his transit career at East Metro Garage.

Ralph Juckel, #513

Bus Operator

Ralph was hired by Metro Transit in April of 1981. He began his career at Snelling Garage, moved on to Nicollet and ended at Heywood with 30+ years of service.

He received the Safe Driving award 24 times. He retired on July 1, 2011.

In his spare time, Ralph enjoys fishing, hunting and gardening.

Mark Miller, #3005

Rail Operator

Mark was hired as a bus driver in July 1972, driving for 32 years at several garages, and ending his career at East Metro. Mark enjoyed the people aspect of driving, but his heart belonged to trains. Prior to Metro Transit, he applied at Burlington Northern but taking that job would require leaving Minnesota. As a young father he chose to stay and drive buses.

When light-rail service began in 2004, Mark jumped at the chanced to become a train operator. He was known for his attention to detail and love of a clean train cab – he always washed the windows so they were spotless.

Mark retired on July 10, 2011, and lives with his family in western Wisconsin.

Richard Krafty, #761

Bus Operator

Richard started with Metro Transit on June 11, 1979. He spent most of his career working from Heywood Garage. 

In his 32 years of service, Richard logged 29 years of accident-free driving and earned numerous customer commendations.

He earned the agency’s Outstanding Operator Award – the agency’s mark of excellence in customer service, attendance and safety – 25 times, earning him the title of Elite Operator.

Richard retired on June 11, 2011.

Cheryl Selinsky

TDM Program Administrator

Cheryl began her career as temporary employee with a pilot project known as MTC Commuter Services. The group was tasked with promoting transportation options to employers in the Pentagon Park area of the Twin Cities. The program grew into Minnesota Rideshare and finally became part of Metro Transit's Customer Services & Marketing division.

Throughout her 32+ years as Program Administrator, Cheryl helped scores of commuters and employers find alternatives to driving alone, preventing the release of many millions of tons of greenhouse gases. She left service on June 3, 2011.

Scott Berg

Transit Supervisor

Scott was instrumental in moving Transit Supervision into the computer age. He established many of the computer procedures that are still in use today. He was responsible for training all transit supervisors when Metro Transit joined the regional 800 MHz radio system.

Most recently he managed downtown St. Paul bus service through the first season of construction on the Central Corridor light-rail project.

Bill Wormwood, #561

Rail Operator

Bill began his transit career at Northside Garage, worked at Nicollet and South garages, and drove mainly from Snelling/East Metro Garage. Bill worked swing shifts for many years and he could often be found on Rice Street, Grand Avenue or east/west 7^{th Street}.

In 2003 Bill began training as one of the first operators for the Hiawatha light-rail line, a position he held until his retirement on June 3, 2011. "The many friends I've met at Metro Transit I expect to have for the rest of my life," he said.

Carroll Dingemans, #857

Bus Operator

Carroll left his colleagues on June 3, 2001, after 31 years and three months behind the wheel. He began his career as a part-time bus driver at the former Snelling Garage, moving to full-time work after 12 years.

Career highlights were receiving an award for 30 years of safe driving in 2010 and winning the agency's Roadeo – a safety and skills competition – in the part-time category in 1987. Metro Transit estimates that he served more than 880,000 customers over his years of service.

Upon retirement, he planned to engage in his favorite hobby: designing and building unicycles, having already built more than 100.

Kathy Casey

Assistant Transportation Manager

Kathy Casey said goodbye to Metro Transit on April 29, 2011, after 31+ years of service at the agency. She served in many capacities during her career, including bus driver, dispatcher, garage coordinator and assistant transportation manager.

She spent the last years of her transit tenure at Ruter Garage, and played a major role in providing customer service and safety for tens of thousands of light-rail customers after Twins and Vikings games at the Metrodome.

James Latourneau

Money Counter

Jim began his career as a bus driver in July 1973. He took a short break, but returned to driving, where he earned several awards and commendations. He became a vault puller in 1997; after a few short months, Jim moved to the money counting room and remained on that team until he retired on April 23, 2011. In total, he amassed 37 years and six months of dedicated service to Metro Transit.  

His legacy is one of accuracy, a sense of humor and a positive attitude. Jim earned 13 consecutive years of excellent attendance, and welcomed temporary workers with his friendly attitude and tales of his adventures as a bus driver. 

Bob Bier

Mechanic Technician

Bob retired from Metro Transit's Overhaul Base facility after 35 years of service on May 13, 2011.

Roxanne "Rocky" McClurg, #31

Bus Operator

Roxanne McClurg, or "Rocky," as she was known to co-workers, was a helpful, welcoming face to new employees at Ruter Garage. She helped organize an employee club and cooked breakfasts and lunches for colleagues during garage events.

Over the course of her 37-year career, she twice finished in the top 30 and once won Rookie of the Year at the Metro Transit Roadeo, a safety and skills competition. She also won an award for 30 years of accident-free driving.

She left Metro Transit on April 15, 2011, to pursue her love of fishing and travel.

Mike "Kraky" Krakowski

Stockkeeper

His co-workers at the Overhaul Base called him "Kraky," but you might want to call him "Mr. Organization."

During his 30 years, he was responsible for physically moving two stockrooms and building another from scratch. At Metro Transit's facility where buses receive major maintenance, he was an integral part of converting the storage of bus parts – more than 6,000 types – from a shelf-based system to a carousel that allows employees to find parts faster.

He retired on April 1, 2011.

Glenn Goetz, #2698

Bus Operator

When Glenn Goetz left Metro Transit, he did so having worked at nearly every bus garage in the system at some point.

Goetz earned the agency's Outstanding Operator Award – the agency's mark of excellence in customer service, attendance and safety – seven times in his 36-year career and retired with the title of Master Operator.

When he retired in February 2011, he was looking forward to retirement and having the time to work on old cars and clean his house, along with spending more time with his two children and six grandchildren.

Howard
"Howie" Melco

Mechanic Technician

Howie began his bus maintenance career in 1975 and retired in February 2011, after 35 years of service at Metro Transit's Overhaul Base.

Howie’s ingenuity and creativity will live on in the “motorman” custom-designed gate at the Franklin Avenue light-rail station and in memories of the “Twinkle Bus” – Metro Transit’s longtime winter parade float – which he helped to design and build.

Charles "Rocky" Pierce, #167

Bus Operator

Charles joined Metro Transit on Jan. 21, 1980, as a bus driver.

"Rocky," as he was known to many he worked with, earned the outstanding operator award two times for safe driving, quality customer service and attendance. During his nearly 31 years of service, he also earned Metro Transit's annual safe driving award 23 times.

His colleagues, fiancée and several grandchildren gathered in December to cap his career with a retirement celebration at Heywood Garage in January 2011.

Lawrence E. Delmore, #3231

Bus Operator

Lawrence joined Metro Transit on Nov. 2, 1970, as a bus operator and spent most of the next 40 years serving customers of St. Paul routes during assignments at the Snelling Garage and East Metro Garage.

During his tenure, he earned Metro Transit's annual safe driving award 36 times. He retired with the designation of Master Driver, by earning the agency's outstanding operator award nine times for safe driving, quality customer service and attendance.

He retired in January 2011.

Kandy Duchene, #126

Bus Operator

Thadore "Ted" Stephney, #1109

Instructor

James C. Chamberlin, #5185

Mechanic Technician