2023 inducted DRIVERs
Alan Demonbreun
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Alan Demonbreun
Life years: 1952 - Present
Bus years: 1982 – Present, est. 5-6 million miles
Alan Demonbreun was born in 1952 and raised in Nashville, TN. After high school he was an architectural draftsman for several years. In the mid 1970’s, Alan got in a band called Clover Willis, playing drums and bass. They had an old MCI MC-7 bus, and
Alan Demonbreun
Life years: 1952 - Present
Bus years: 1982 – Present, est. 5-6 million miles
Alan Demonbreun was born in 1952 and raised in Nashville, TN. After high school he was an architectural draftsman for several years. In the mid 1970’s, Alan got in a band called Clover Willis, playing drums and bass. They had an old MCI MC-7 bus, and Alan started driving. In the early 1980’s he began working for Custom Coach. Around 1987 Alan started working at Nitetrain Coach and remains there to this day. His first bus was a Model 7 Eagle, but in 1989 Nitetrain received their first Model 15 Eagle buses.
Alan was on tour with entertainer Gladys Knight during Thanksgiving one year. While stopped at a small hotel, Gladys went into a hotel room and cooked the Thanksgiving meal for the entire bus. Alan recalled she was an excellent cook.
Alan was scheduled to go on tour with the band Insane Clown Posse. Right before the tour started, the father of a band member passed away. This caused a tour planning change; Alan picked up several family members in a bus and was driving them towards Detroit. While driving at highway speed on the interstate, the bus steering wheel came off in his hands. Additionally, the steering wheel shaft dropped down out of sight, so he couldn’t simply put the steering wheel back on. With absolutely no way to control the bus, he successfully managed to get the bus to the side of the roadway and stopped.
Some of the many bands Alan has driven are Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, Amy Grant, NWA, Ice Cube, New Kids On The Block, Don Henley, The Eagles, Patti LaBelle, The Osmonds, Jack White, Phish, Gloria Estefan, Diamond Rio, and many others.
Demonbreun Street in Nashville is named for Timothy Demonbreun, known as Nashville’s “First Citizen”. This is Alan’s great great great grandfather.
Alan is still an active driver. As of this writing he is alive and well and residing in Nashville, TN.
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Life years: Nov 8, 1942 – Jun 12, 2022, age 79
Bus years: 1972 – 2016
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks was born Nov 8, 1942 and raised in Morristown, TN. After high school he served in the US Air Force from 1961 – 1963. Upon separation Bill drove semi-trucks, then started driving buses for Trailways. In 1972 he began driving for
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Life years: Nov 8, 1942 – Jun 12, 2022, age 79
Bus years: 1972 – 2016
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks was born Nov 8, 1942 and raised in Morristown, TN. After high school he served in the US Air Force from 1961 – 1963. Upon separation Bill drove semi-trucks, then started driving buses for Trailways. In 1972 he began driving for entertainer Conway Twitty, a career that would last for 22 years.
On June 4, 1993, Conway Twitty performed a 3pm show at the Jim Stafford Theater in Branson, MO. After the show, Bill told Conway he would stop at a restaurant in Springfield, MO, and Conway replied he was hungry and would join Bill. Upon arriving at the restaurant, Bill went to back of the bus to get Conway but found him unconscious. An ambulance was summoned, and Conway was taken to a hospital where he passed away the next morning.
Bill then bought his own bus and began driving independently for entertainers. Some of his clients were Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Brett Eldredge, Eric Church, Three of Hearts, Jeff Bates, JT Hodges, and many others. Also during this time Bill was a standup comedian, performing in Branson and on a cruise ship.
In 1982, Bill was a founder of Christmas Caravan, which is now known as Christmas 4 Kids. In 1990, Bill was instrumental in having the Professional Drivers Monument erected, dedicated to the memory of deceased drivers. The monument was initially located on Music Valley Drive in Nashville, but later relocated to Hendersonville Memory Garden.
Bill retired in 2016 and passed away on Jun 12, 2022.
Bruce Crawford
Billy Ray “Bill” Parks
Bruce Crawford
William Bruce Crawford
Life years: Sep 19, 1936 – Mar 30, 2024, Age 87
Bus years: 1972 – 2000, over 3 million miles
William “Bruce” Crawford was born in 1936 and raised in Helena, AR. After high school Bruce
was a manager at a chemical company. He had married country music artist Conway Twitty’s
sister, and Conway offered him a job working at
William Bruce Crawford
Life years: Sep 19, 1936 – Mar 30, 2024, Age 87
Bus years: 1972 – 2000, over 3 million miles
William “Bruce” Crawford was born in 1936 and raised in Helena, AR. After high school Bruce
was a manager at a chemical company. He had married country music artist Conway Twitty’s
sister, and Conway offered him a job working at one of his businesses in Sapulpa, OK. Bruce
worked in various cities and roles for Conway before eventually becoming one of his tour bus
drivers in 1972. Bruce remained there until Conway’s death in 1993. He then spent 3 years
driving for Clay Walker, and 21 years driving for Tyler Perry. Other bands he has driven are the
Neville Brothers, Wynona Judd, The Four Tops, and The Temptations.
Bruce explained that when Conway’s 1970 song, “Hello Darlin” was first released, they
performed a show in Winston-Salem, NC. Upon completing that song, Conway received 7
standing ovations, which is one of the greatest events Bruce has ever witnessed.
Bruce retired from bus driving in Feb 2000, and passed away on March 30, 2024 in
Gallatin, TN.
Dwayne Harper
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Bruce Crawford
Dwayne Harper
Life years: 1963 - Present
Bus years: 1982 – Present, est. 5-6 million miles
Dwayne Harper was born in 1963 and raised in Castalian Springs, TN. After high school he worked on and drove trucks with his dad in the family business. Dwayne’s first truck was a 1974 Diamond Rio semi. When he was only 17, Dwayne was making cross-coun
Dwayne Harper
Life years: 1963 - Present
Bus years: 1982 – Present, est. 5-6 million miles
Dwayne Harper was born in 1963 and raised in Castalian Springs, TN. After high school he worked on and drove trucks with his dad in the family business. Dwayne’s first truck was a 1974 Diamond Rio semi. When he was only 17, Dwayne was making cross-country trips alone on a regular route to Colorado.
In 1982, a Model 5 Eagle entertainer bus owned by Eldridge Fox broke down in front of Dwayne’s shop. By the time Dwayne and his dad got it repaired, the driver had quit. The band was The Kingsmen Quartet, and they needed to get to Cleveland – so Eldridge asked Dwayne if he would drive it. So 21 year old Dwayne started driving for Eldridge, and remained there until 1987.
Dwayne’s uncle, Buford Lane bought a new Model 15 Eagle in 1988 and they converted the inside. Dwayne started driving, Ted Nugent, The Damn Yankees, Rush, and many others. He became successful and started subleasing buses from the Hemphill Brothers. Dwayne worked for the Hemphill Brothers from 1989 to 1994, then returned in 1998 and remained there until the end of 2023 season.
Dwayne is still an active driver, his collection of laminates is currently at 188. As of this writing he is alive and well and residing in Castalian Springs, TN.
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Life years: 1935 - Present
Bus years: 1982 – Present, est. 5-6 million miles
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett was born in 1935 and raised in Fletcher, OK and Dickins, TX. During high school he did farm work and worked in sawmills. From Jan 1956 – Jan 1960, Ed served in the US Navy as a Refrigeration & AC Technician. Up
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Life years: 1935 - Present
Bus years: 1982 – Present, est. 5-6 million miles
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett was born in 1935 and raised in Fletcher, OK and Dickins, TX. During high school he did farm work and worked in sawmills. From Jan 1956 – Jan 1960, Ed served in the US Navy as a Refrigeration & AC Technician. Upon separation, he went back to working in sawmills, then worked as a Trailways bus mechanic for 20 years. One day while at Trailways, a Roadhouse Transportation bus came in for an oil change, and Ed talked to the driver, who encouraged him to apply for a job. Ed drove to Lubbock, TX and talked to company owner Jay Boy Adams and was hired. Ed worked for Roadhouse Transportation from 1984 – 1992.
In 1992, Ed moved to Nashville and worked for Nitetrain Coach, Hemphill Brothers Coach, Then Roberts Brothers Coach until he retired in 2007. As of this writing, Ed is alive and well and residing in Hendersonville, TN
Elwyn “Em” Lehman
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Charles Edward “Ed” Bennett
Elwyn “Em” Lehman
Life years: 1946 - Present
Bus years: 1977 – 2018
Elwyn “Em” Lehman was born in 1946 and raised in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. From 1969 – 1971, he was a driver and roadie for Canadian band Lighthouse. Em was a musician playing guitar and Autoharp. He began driving buses for Lighthouse in 1977, an MCI MC-5. From 1980 – 19
Elwyn “Em” Lehman
Life years: 1946 - Present
Bus years: 1977 – 2018
Elwyn “Em” Lehman was born in 1946 and raised in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. From 1969 – 1971, he was a driver and roadie for Canadian band Lighthouse. Em was a musician playing guitar and Autoharp. He began driving buses for Lighthouse in 1977, an MCI MC-5. From 1980 – 1987 Em drove a production truck for entertainer Kenny Rogers, then switched to driving a tour bus for the band Sawyer Brown for 2 years. In 1989 he started driving for Florida Custom Coach. Em was a driver at Slow Ride Coach from 1995 – 1999. He started driving for Roadhouse Transportation in 2000 and remained there until 2016. Em drove for RN Entertainment from 2016 until he retired in 2018. Some of the entertainers he has driven are Celine Dion, Blues Traveler, Lee Roy Parnell, Stephen Stills, Wynona Judd, Marty Stewart, Dennis Quaid, Streetheart, Loverboy, Brian Adams, Paul McCartney, Soundgarden, Whitney Houston, and many others.
As of this writing, Em is alive and well and residing in Lebanon, TN.
Jeff "Cowboy" Adams
Jeff "Cowboy" Adams
Jeff "Cowboy" Adams
Jeff O’Neal “Cowboy” Adams
Life years: Jul 26, 1947 – Dec 28, 2012, Age 65
Bus years: 1980 - 2005, over 3 million miles
Jeff “Cowboy” Adams was born July 26, 1947 and raised in Erin, TN. After high school Cowboy joined the U.S. Army and served as a Huey helicopter crew chief in the 21st Signal Aviation Group, Nha Trang, Vietnam, from 1968 –
Jeff O’Neal “Cowboy” Adams
Life years: Jul 26, 1947 – Dec 28, 2012, Age 65
Bus years: 1980 - 2005, over 3 million miles
Jeff “Cowboy” Adams was born July 26, 1947 and raised in Erin, TN. After high school Cowboy joined the U.S. Army and served as a Huey helicopter crew chief in the 21st Signal Aviation Group, Nha Trang, Vietnam, from 1968 – 1969. Afterwards he became a truck driver, and his CB handle was Asphalt Cowboy. His son Marty believes the word Asphalt was dropped, and this is where the nickname Cowboy comes from. Around 1980 Cowboy started driving entertainer buses, starting at Florida Custom Coach, then moving around to Florida Coach, Four Seasons, and several small unnamed companies. Some of the bands he drove for were Bon Jovi, Sevendust, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Korn, Don Henley, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Wasp, David Lee Roth, and Quiet Riot.
Cowboy’s son Marty recalled a time back in the mid 1980’s, he and his sister went to a venue to see their dad who was on tour with Bon Jovi and Skid Row. As they went from bus to bus looking for driver Jeff Adams, nobody had a clue who Jeff Adams was. Finally, someone asked Marty if he was looking for “Cowboy”. Marty wasn’t sure if that was his dad or not.
Once when Cowboy was on tour with artist Ty Herndon, after leaving a venue Cowboy stopped at a truck stop for fuel. While Cowboy was off the bus, Herndon exited and went into the truck stop. Protocol for departing the bus at night was to leave something on the driver’s seat, and Herndon did not do that. Cowboy finished fueling and departed. Once he got about 100 miles down the road, someone in the bus told Cowboy that Herndon had been left behind. Even though Herndon was the primary artist, Cowboy refused to go back, adding that Herndon could catch a ride to the venue with a trucker.
Cowboy retired around 2005 and passed away on Dec 28, 2012 in Sparta, TN.
Jimmy “Jim” Webb
Jeff "Cowboy" Adams
Jeff "Cowboy" Adams
Jimmy F. Webb
Life years: 1943 – Present
Bus years: 1968 – 2008, over 4 million miles
Jimmy F. “Jim” Webb was born in 1943 and raised in Laurel, MS. After high school Jim trained as a mechanic and worked at a Ford dealership. In 1968 he went to work as a bus driver for Trailways. In 1972 he encountered an entertainer driver named Hoot Borden
Jimmy F. Webb
Life years: 1943 – Present
Bus years: 1968 – 2008, over 4 million miles
Jimmy F. “Jim” Webb was born in 1943 and raised in Laurel, MS. After high school Jim trained as a mechanic and worked at a Ford dealership. In 1968 he went to work as a bus driver for Trailways. In 1972 he encountered an entertainer driver named Hoot Borden (see 2022 Hall of Fame inductees) and was told there was a driver position open working for Loretta Lynn. Jim began working there and continued to drive for her for 36 years until retiring from bus driving in 2008. He continued to work for Loretta at her Hurricane Mills, TN ranch as a tour guide until 2016. Even though Jim’s last name was the same as Loretta’s maiden name, they were not closely related. In the 1980 movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, Jim appeared several times as himself, the bus driver.
During times when he wasn’t on tour with Loretta, Jim worked for Senators Coaches, Florida Coach, Brooks & Dunn, Sylvia, Tom Jones, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, The Temptations, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Jim recalled a story about Loretta having a king-sized bed at the back of her bus which she put satin sheets on. Jim told her if he hits the brakes too hard just one time, she’s going to slide off those sheets and end up front with him. One evening Loretta asked Jim to stop and get her a chocolate milkshake. He did as asked and took it to her in the back lounge. About midway through the night, Loretta picked up her phone and told Jim that he needed to get back there immediately. Jim pulled the bus over, walked to the back lounge door and knocked, asking if she was descent. Loretta replied that she was under the covers. Jim opened the door, and Loretta was in a panic, explaining that she was bleeding and had lost a lot of blood. Jim asked if she was cut anywhere, but Loretta could not determine any cause of injury. Jim finally investigated the blood: if you leave half of a chocolate milkshake on the nightstand and it falls on blue satin sheets, it looks like blood.
One night while Jim was driving out of Canada, he smelled smoke so he pulled over. There was a fire in one of the bunks. He told everyone in the bunk area to evacuate, then went to the back to tell Loretta, Mooney Lynn (Loretta’s husband), and Crystal Gayle (Loretta’s younger sister) to evacuate. Mooney thought Jim was joking and brushed him off. When they finally realized he was serious, Loretta put on her jumpsuit backwards. While trying to zip it up and hopping down the hallway, Loretta hit Jim in the butt, knocking him into the fire that he was trying to put out.
As of this writing, Jim is alive and well and residing in Charleston, WV.
Joe Mooney
Jeff "Cowboy" Adams
Larry Chandler
Joseph Mooney
Life years: 1941 – Present
Bus years: 1978 – Present, over 4 million miles
Joseph “Joe” Mooney was born in 1941 and raised in Woburn, MA. After high school Joe worked for GMC Truck & Coach, and drove dump trailers in the Boston area for 10 years. Joe’s brother Tom Mooney was Neil Diamond’s road manager, and Joe began driving to
Joseph Mooney
Life years: 1941 – Present
Bus years: 1978 – Present, over 4 million miles
Joseph “Joe” Mooney was born in 1941 and raised in Woburn, MA. After high school Joe worked for GMC Truck & Coach, and drove dump trailers in the Boston area for 10 years. Joe’s brother Tom Mooney was Neil Diamond’s road manager, and Joe began driving tour buses in 1978. He began at the now defunct Silverlite Bus Company of El Segundo, CA, later working at Florida Coach, Florida Custom Coach, Hemphill Brothers Coach, and Senators Coach where he remains today. Joe has driven for Fleetwood Mac, Eddie Murphy, Tina Turner, Rita Coolidge, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Amy Grant, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Rick James, Metallica, REO Speedwagon, Chicago, Foreigner, Grateful Dead, Eddie Money, Kris Kristopherson, Van Halen, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osborne, Twisted Sister, Guns N Roses, Elton John, Bon Jovi, and many others.
As of this writing, Joe is alive and well and residing in Woburn, MA.
Larry Chandler
Lee Roy Eichler
Larry Chandler
Larry Dale Chandler
Life years: Jan 12, 1952 – Apr 10, 2021, Age 69
Bus years: 1981 – Jan 2019, millions of miles
Larry Chandler was born Jan 12, 1952 and raised in Sweetser, IN. After high school Larry became a truck driver, and his CB handle was Yogi Bear. Many people continued to call Larry “Yogi” throughout his bus driving career. In 198
Larry Dale Chandler
Life years: Jan 12, 1952 – Apr 10, 2021, Age 69
Bus years: 1981 – Jan 2019, millions of miles
Larry Chandler was born Jan 12, 1952 and raised in Sweetser, IN. After high school Larry became a truck driver, and his CB handle was Yogi Bear. Many people continued to call Larry “Yogi” throughout his bus driving career. In 1980, he got a job driving trucks for the Bill Gaither Trio, then another driving for the Oak Ridge Boys. One evening in 1981, a driver was suddenly needed for an Oak Ridge Boys bus, so Larry started driving buses and never looked back. During his career he drove for Hemphill Brothers Coach Company, All Access Coach Leasing, and Senators Coach Company. Some of the bands he drove for were the Bill Gaither Trio, the Oak Ridge Boys, T.G. Sheppard, WWE Wrestling, Lyle Lovett, and Def Leppard.
In the early Hemphill Brothers Coach days, Larry flew to Nashville and was met at the airport by Trent Hemphill. Trent gave Larry a pen flashlight. Larry asked what it was for, Trent said, “That’s your dash lights.”
Larry retired in Jan 2019 and passed away on Apr 10, 2021 in Marion, IN.
Lee Roy Eichler
Lee Roy Eichler
Lee Roy Eichler
Lee Roy Eichler
Life years: 1945 – Present
Bus years: 1964 – present, millions of miles
Lee Roy Eichler was born in 1945 and raised in Dime Box, TX. After high school Lee Roy became the drummer for the band Jimmy Heap & the Melody Masters of Taylor, TX, where he began driving a 1947 GM bus. In October 1972, Lee Roy began driving for country
Lee Roy Eichler
Life years: 1945 – Present
Bus years: 1964 – present, millions of miles
Lee Roy Eichler was born in 1945 and raised in Dime Box, TX. After high school Lee Roy became the drummer for the band Jimmy Heap & the Melody Masters of Taylor, TX, where he began driving a 1947 GM bus. In October 1972, Lee Roy began driving for country music artist George Strait, where he remains to this day. He started driving a 1972 Silver Eagle, and it is believed Lee Roy holds the current record for longest exclusive driver of one artist, at 41 years as of this writing.
In the 1992 movie “Pure Country”, Lee Roy appeared as himself, the bus driver. One of his favorite accomplishments came in 2004 when he was summoned to West Virginia to pick up wounded U.S. Army combat veteran Jessica Lynch. A bus was provided, and Lee Roy drove Lynch to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. During a time when he wasn’t on tour with George Strait, Lee Roy toured with Kenny Chesney.
As of this writing, Lee Roy is alive and well and residing in New Braunfels, TX.