Jerry Lincoln loves his job driving buses. But all good things must come to an end.

Lincoln is retiring at the end of November from driving buses. Lincoln’s retirement comes after working for the City of Annapolis for 38 years, but his time in Annapolis only represents a fraction of the miles he has driven.

Lincoln, 82, has been driving since he graduated high school in the late 1950s. Originally from Virginia, he drove buses before he graduated. His senior year of high school, he received his commercial driver’s license in addition to his driver’s license. Back then, school buses were parked on school property after the initial drop off, so it didn’t affect his ability to get an education.

“When people need something, you have to reach out and help,” he said of his experience driving the school bus. “So when your turn comes, somebody will help you. And basically, I guess that’s all I was interested in, and that’s when I got into driving.”

Lincoln is certain he has driven over a million miles in his 50-year career. After graduating high school, he worked at Reagan National Airport for a few years before moving on to the Washington, D.C., transit system. In the 1970s, he transitioned to long-distance driving, working for Greyhound for about 15 years.

After driving long distances, Lincoln moved to Annapolis Transportation in 1987 and has worked in the city for 38 years. He describes it as the best job he has ever had.

“You’re home all the time. You’re not gone, you’re there to help raise your family and do the things you need to do. That’s the main thing with me. I’m a family person, so usually I like being at home. I like doing the things I’m supposed to do: take care of my yard, take care of everything,” he said. “So you know, that’s what I enjoy doing. So being here in Annapolis, over time, you get off the evening shift and get on the morning shift, and you’re home early, so you got all afternoon to do what you want to do.”

On Wednesday, the city held a celebration for Lincoln at the Department of Transportation. He sat at the head of the table, looking out over the room of people. In attendance were colleagues, his family and city officials such as Markus Moore, director of the Annapolis Department of Transportation, and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley.

“The people here [in Annapolis] have been nice to me, so there’s no reason to leave anything good. That’s why I tell folks, ‘You got something good, what are you going to leave it for?’” Lincoln said.

Lincoln has driven every bus route in Annapolis, but his favorite is the Green Route because he has driven it the longest. The Green Route runs from Eastport through West Street to the Annapolis Mall. He started driving the evening shift, but as time passed, he eventually drove the morning shift.

“You get to know all the people, where they going to get off. You know that once they get on, say good morning to you, pay their fare… you don’t have to worry about the bell ringing, because you know every person that’s on your bus…so you pull up to the stop, and if they don’t, they’re not going to get off there. They’ll tell you,” he said.

Jamar Parker, superintendent for Annapolis Transportation, has worked in the department for 20 years. Hired in 2002 as a bus driver, Parker can attest to Lincoln’s contagious grit.

“I was the youngest guy here. So he took me under his wing, he showed me the ropes. He told me, ‘Don’t get mixed up in the boys’ club, come to work, do what you got to do. It’s a good job. You’ll love it.’ And that’s what I did. When I needed advice from him, I went to him. He gave me advice,” Parker said. “He was always that guy that you could go to even get a laugh, or just to talk to, or if you had a question about the job you can go to, he’d help you along.”

Lincoln plans on catching up on rest in his home near Cape St. Claire.

“I can do nothing all day long. Doesn’t bother me, as long as I get out there and cut my grass and keep my place looking nice, that’s all I’m concerned with,” he said.

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