HOT PURSUIT

One man has literally touched the lives of thousands of school-aged children for more than a half century.

And two things have always impressed me about William Regan, the owner of bus companies in Owatonna, Medford, Blooming Prairie and elsewhere.

He had a strong work ethic, and his faith became the cornerstone of his life. Both served him well in his 91 years of life. They helped propel what started as a small bus operation of 15 buses in Owatonna in 1968 into a growing company that now covers nine communities in two states.

Regan, who died at his home last week, became a powerhouse in the school bus industry.

“I don’t come in at 5:30 anymore,” Regan said a few years ago with a slight pause, “now I come in at 7:30.” He rattled off a lot of “important jobs” like picking up the mail and walking around and talking to his employees. There are about 80 working out of the Owatonna bus garage.

Regan was a gentle giant. He knew buses better than anyone else, and he knew how to support the communities he served in various ways. As his son, John, once told me, “He has a huge heart. He’ll never screw anybody over in his life. He’s fair and honest.”

Four of Regan’s eight children have followed in their dad’s footsteps by becoming involved in the bus operation. His daughter, Katy Kreutter, is the company’s chief executive officer. He also has at least one grandson involved in the St. Louis Park operation.

As for his faith, Regan recalled learning from his mother, Agnes (whom the company is named after) who experienced some very tough years. Regan’s father was killed in a hunting accident five weeks before he was born. “She had great faith and passed it on to her kids,” he said of his mother. “My strongest foundation in my life is my Catholic faith.”

He credited his mother with teaching him the value of hard work, resourcefulness and instilled in him a deep faith in God.

Last spring while covering the Eucharistic miracles on display at St. Joseph, it came as no surprise when I ran into Regan and his wife, Sally. I snapped a photo of them at the display. 

Besides a strong faith, Regan was also a man of compassion. Transporting children around on school buses was something he didn’t take lightly. “You always worry,” he said. “My first prayer in the morning is keep my buses safe and on time.”

He was fortunate over the years as he never experienced any major catastrophes with the buses.

He was also a purveyor of anonymous donations and generous favors.

Regan laughed when pushed about retirement. He said fishing and golfing were out of the question. “I’m an awful fisherman and a terrible golfer,” he said. One of his passions was downhill skiing, but he gave that up at 79.

Conversations with Regan always came back to buses. “I enjoy my buses,” he said.

While retirement may not have been in Regan’s vocabulary, school buses certainly were in a big way. And many communities owe him a great deal of gratitude for going in hot pursuit of keeping safe our most precious commodity, children.