[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10434]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRATULATING GREYHOUND ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2014

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Greyhound Lines 
on the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1914.
  Greyhound is the nation's largest bus transportation system, serving 
communities nationwide with modem and environmentally friendly bus 
facilities at affordable prices. From Greyhound's founder, Eric 
Wickman, to the current CEO, Dave Leach, the company has grown from a 
humble three man operation, based out of a seven person van, 
transporting coal miners to a transcontinental business employing 7,500 
staff to one of the most recognizable and well-respected bus carriers.
  An immigrant from Sweden, founder Eric Wickman began a bussing 
transportation system in the rural town of Hibbing, Minnesota after 
losing his mining and drilling job that same year. Operating as Mesaba 
Transportation Company and various other names until the official 
incorporation of the Greyhound name in 1930, Wickman built his company 
from the ground up, expanding services and locations and acquiring 
smaller lines until cementing the company's status as the largest 
intercity bus and transportation system in 1987.
  Based out of Phoenix, Arizona, Greyhound Lines' fleet of 1,735 buses, 
travelling to more than 3,800 destinations and serving 17.6 million 
passengers annually, is now operated by FirstGroup. With the 
classification as the safest mode of transportation by the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Greyhound buses contribute to a safer 
driving environment for others, taking an average of 19 cars off the 
road each trip.
  Most people are unaware, but our domestic private bus companies 
transport more passengers each day than airlines and Amtrak combined. 
In Florida, Greyhound serves many of our communities and provides 
employment for hundreds of workers. Greyhound is a publicly traded 
corporation that pays significant local, state and federal taxes. The 
private transportation carrier actually makes a profit and does not 
rely on federal subsidies.
  As the former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee, it has been my honor to work with many Greyhound officials 
and employees and it is my pleasure to congratulate each of them and 
the Greyhound Lines Family on this occasion. I know my colleagues join 
me in saluting a great American transportation carrier and all the fine 
people at Greyhound on this significant milestone.

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