Archive: Around Town

Lansing Central School bus driver A. J. Walrad was honored by the Board of Education last night for saving a child's life last March, when he pulled a student from certain death.  The bus was stopped with its lights flashing when a van sped by it, passing on the right.  Walrad grabbed the student by the collar, pulled him back into the bus and slammed the doors shut.  "He saw that the car was going past.  He immediately grabbed the student by the collar, pulled the student back, slammed the door shut," Superintendent Mark Lewis told the Board.  "That car was so close to the bus that had those doors been opened the van would have clipped them.  We can only imagine what would have happened."

Lewis said that when he was a young teacher a child was killed in a similar accident that ruined many lives and left a mark on the community that still exists 30 years later.  "So when I was apprised of what happened on March 7th," Lewis said, "it was apparent to me and apparent to this board of education that we could not let it go unheralded.  The gentleman to my right performed a feat of heroism that we all owe him a debt of gratitude for."

School board President Bonita Lindberg read the text of a plaque before presenting it to Walrad.  "Awarded to Anthony J. Walrad (AJ) Walrad in recognition of his display of heroism which resulted in the saving of the life of a Lansing Central School District student while performing his duties as a district school bus driver on Wednesday, March 7, 2007.  Given with deepest appreciation by the Lansing Central School District Board of Education on June 14, 2007."


Lewis commended the entire transportation department.  "I've grown to know it as an expert transportation department - that day in and day out safely transports our children to and from school," he told the Board.

Walrad accepted the plaque, giving a soft spoken reply to thunderous, heartfelt applause.  "I want to thank everybody for coming out.  I really appreciate it," he said.  "I also have to thank all the drivers.  I did what every driver would have done, what we are trained to do.  I have to thank all the drivers for all their support, and the community for all their support."

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