Richard Pratschner didn’t want to go to college, but didn’t know exactly what to do. His uncle, a longtime operator, pointed him on a career path that would span four decades.

"I didn’t plan on becoming a bus driver," Richard admitted. "But it turned out to be a good fit for me."

He began part time in 1984, but he wasn’t convinced this was his career until he went full-time the next year. He worked at various garages and routes and spent his final years at the North Loop Garage, driving Route 645 near his old neighborhood where he first decided to become a bus operator.

"When I finished on the 645, it felt like coming full circle," he said.

Over the years, Richard witnessed major shifts in the industry, especially in the buses themselves.

"When I started, the buses were big, heavy, and manual—no power steering, no wheelchair lifts," he recalls. "Now, everything is more modern, and the technology makes the job easier."

But despite the changes, the core skills of driving remained constant—chiefly, patience.

"You have to accept that things will happen. It’s all about being patient with yourself and others," Richard said.

The people he met on the job, both passengers and fellow drivers, made the experience rewarding.

"The best part of this career is definitely the people. I’ve helped so many get where they need to go," he says. "And the friendships with fellow drivers are something I’ll always cherish."

In retirement, he plans to return to hobbies like ice fishing and gardening, and once his wife retires, a cruise in Alaska.