Shelley Miley
Hometown: Darlington, S.C. Previous jobs:Miley has been a mechanic all his life and was in the Army for six years. He works full-time for the Winston-Salem Transit Authority. Hobbies and activities: He likes riding motorcycles and driving old cars. Miley owns a Harley-Davidson. He enjoys restoring old cars, and has had more than 100 classic cars in his lifetime. He likes to cook and grill. Enjoy most/ least about job:“Just driving and talking with people, taking them back and forth.”
Most unusual thing that has happened on the bus. There was an incident when three sorority girls were dressed alike and they all came on the shuttle. Miley was laughing from a phone conversation, and they thought he was laughing at them. “One of the girls sort of stood over me and bumped me,” Miley said.
Driving all day at your other job, and driving here, how do you stay awake and alert?“I keep my head up and focus,” Miley said. “The students getting on and off, talking, I hear all kinds of stuff, boyfriend, girlfriend, I hear it all. Some of them get on here, and ask me for my advice.”
Words of advice to students“Keep your head up” is Miley’s motto to students and words he also lives by.
Gwendolyn Williams
Hometown: Tobaccoville, N.C.
Previous jobs:Retired from AT&T/Lucent Technologies after 34 years.
Hobbies and activities:Reading, theater, listening to jazz music and traveling.
Enjoy most/least about job: “I love to drive, and I love people. What I like least about the job is some impatient students.”
Most unusual thing that has happened on the bus. “I couldn’t tell you that. It’s a women’s personal thing.”
Little known facts: Williams has traveled to Aruba, Cancun, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Spain, South Africa, Rock of Gibraltar and Morocco. She has ridden a camel, elephant, horse and a mule.
Driving all day, how do you stay awake and alert?“I go to bed about 10. I go early to make sure I get a lot of rest.” “When I get real tired I stop, smoke a cigarette, take a breather. I just stop the bus and take a break.”
Words of advice to students“Stay focused. These are the best four years of your life, but stay focused and have fun.”
Raymond Famble
Hometown: Shelby, N.C.
Hobbies and activities:Golfing, writing poetry, reading and fishing. He is also a sports fan. His favorite teams are the Redskins, Ohio State, UNC, Georgetown. Enjoy most/least about job:Dealing with people. “I’m really not complete when I’m not dealing with people in some form. That has really been the trademark of my life. All my life I have been working with people, and that’s really what I’m about.”
Most unusual thing that has happened on the bus. An individual, who was not waiting at a bus stop, tried to flag him down. Famble drove passed because drivers cannot pick up students who are not at designated stops. The individual then cut him off at the next stop and threw a rock at the bus. “I guess that was the most usual thing, but it was not funny at the time. It was funny afterwards,” he said.
While driving all day, how do you stay awake and alert?“I never had a problem with that. The passengers will keep you awake.” The worst time to drive the bus is when no one is riding, but as long as he has passengers, he says he is fine.
Words of advice to students:“Put forth all their energy to learn as much as you can now. Prepare for your future because things are not getting any easier. Everyday we are faced with greater challenges.” “Focus on the things that help builds character.” His concern is the young men that seem to be wasting away. It is pathetic. We are the leaders of tomorrow. Am I really concerned when I see the young females putting in all the effort to better themselves and some of the men are wasting away. It’s a major concern. The incarceration rates are off the charts. We have a lot of work ahead of us. He has a certain level of fear of what’s happening in the men and women he is transporting; some of the attitudes leave a lot to be desired. But he has seen a major change in attitude over the years in his riders. “I have a special connection to the young men and women on this campus. They are very important to me, and at this point in my life I consider them family, and not just the students, the faculty and staff as well. I met some fine people here. WSSU is very important to me.”
Travis McGriff
Hometown: Winston-Salem.
Hobbies and activities:Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., former track coach [shot put, discuss, field events] with Tri-City Relay Club. McGriff is a member of Phi Mu Alpha.
Enjoy most/least about job: “I enjoy helping the kids. This is a service for them,” McGriff said.
Most unusual thing that has happened on the bus. The funniest?“I can’t think of one particular incident. There are too many to remember,” McGriff said.
Little known facts:McGriff is a member of the Twin City Choristers, an organization of men that travels to sing and to perform. Many men in this group have graduated from WSSU.
Driving all day, how do you stay awake and alert?“I try to go to bed at night. I get sleepy but I try to get off the bus and stretch. I try to gather myself and get back on because you don’t have much time [to rest].” He also tries to exercise.
Words of advice to students:“Stay focused and know your reason for being in school. Don’t doubt yourself and never give up.”