2023 inducted office personnel

John Aikin

Life years: 1953 – Present

Bus years: 1976 – Present

John Aikin was born in 1953 and raised in Kansas City, MO. After graduating from Missouri State College in 1976, he became a road crew member for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, working as guitar and drum tech, sound engineer, Front of House engineer, and any other duties necessary. At night he would drive the equipment truck from show to show.

In 1980 John began working for Milo Liggett at Loch Raven Coach. His test drive was conducted by Mark Chadwell, who had him drive a city block making 4 right turns. Upon completion, Mark told John if he could drive the bus into the one garage bay without hitting anything, he was clear to go on the road.

John’s first tour was with entertainer Rich Springfield. The tour manager asked John if he smoked, and when John said no, he became the band bus driver. Later the tour manager asked John how many bands he had driven in the past. John replied none, and that he had only driven the equipment truck for Ozark Mountain Daredevils. The tour manager then said, “Don’t ever let the band find that out!” 

In 1982 John was hired as a bus driver by Ray Shelton and Leon Frazier at Senators Coaches. In 1987 he became Leasing Manager and eventually became Executive Vice President. In 1999 John left Senators and became General Manager of Crossroads Arena in Corinth, MS for 2 years. In 2001 he became Director of the Montagne Center, another 10,000 seat arena in Texas for 3 years. In 2004 John returned to Senators Coaches as Executive Vice President and remained there until 2018 when he retired. In 2020 John became employed as Co-President of Beat The Street USA, is now semi-retired and enjoying stepping back.

John has completed 25 Boston Marathons, and 111 marathons total and is still running.

Mark Larson

Life years: 1961 – Present

Bus years: 1982 – Present

Mark Larson was born in 1961 and raised in Minneapolis, MN, Central America and Europe. In 1982 he moved to Nashville and began driving a bus for a gospel group called The Dewey Family. In 1985 Mark began working part-time driving for Hemphill Brothers Coach Company, which became full-time in 1987. In 1993 Mark was moved into the office and was eventually promoted to Vice President.

In 1991, Mark flew to Quebec, Canada and obtained the first 2 Prevost buses for Hemphill Brothers Coach Company. These buses were built and used for the Gloria Estefan “Into the Light” tour, one of which was driven by Ron “Bear” Jones. Mark drove the other one.

Mark recalls a day back in 1985 when he had deadheaded a bus to California to pick up the entertainer Roger Miller for a short tour. When he arrived, a gentleman stepped up on the bus to inspect it before the tour was to depart. As they were walking through the bus, Mark told the gentleman something to the effect of, “Mr. Miller should be pleased with this bus.” The gentleman turned around, looked at Mark, and said, “I am Roger Miller.”

As of this writing, Mark is alive and well and residing in Nashville, TN. After over 30 years of being both a driver and an executive for Hemphill Brothers, Mark is now about to embark on a new adventure with a new company.