SCRANTON -- A Martz Trailways bus driver turned over his keys Wednesday afternoon after nearly 50 years of driving for the company.
He says he stopped counting a long time ago how many miles he's traveled, but it's been enough to travel around the world at least once.
The sides of Martz Trailways buses bear the company's slogan: "a century of service." And one driver has been there for almost half of it.
It's not unusual for Ray Komski to get a hug or handshake after a trip. It's the balloons this time that were unusual.
"It's been a sad day, knowing that this was the last trip."
After 47 years of driving a Martz bus, Komski made his last drop off in Scranton. He's driven in all 50 states, taking him and his bus an innumerable amount of miles.
"Somebody says he's been around the world a couple of times, easily," said Gayle Lutz of Travelworld.
Komski was greeted with the reception that speaks to the impact he's had: balloons and some gifts from Travelworld employees who have worked with him for many years.
Even though this job is over, Komski says he still has plans to drive.
"These girls joked that maybe you'll drive your wife crazy now?"
"Quite the opposite," Ray replied. "She will drive me crazy!"
Komski's showed up to work with a few jokes since he was 28 years old.
Working 47 years at the same job is an achievement few people have these days and after all that time, Komski says what he got out of it is what we all really want.
"We paid the bills, had a decent life."
