2025 inducted Industry contributor

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John Spellings

Life Years: 1952 – Present

Bus years: 1996 – Present

John Spellings was born in 1952 and raised in Memphis, TN. After high school he attended the

University of Tennessee, graduating with a degree in Transportation. From 1975 – 1985, John

worked at Trailways, working his way up to Regional Director. In 1988 he formed a joint

venture with Greyhound Bus Lines. In 1990, John purchased Greyhound’s share of Greyhound

Charter Service and renamed the company Orion Charters and Tours. He sold this business in

1992. From 1993 to 1996 John did consulting work in the trucking and casino business. This led

to John purchasing an entertainer bus company and operating West Entertainment

Transportation. In 1997 he decided to exit the entertainer leasing business and sell his assets,

which led to the creation of Busforsale.com. John operated this business until he sold it to Encore

Coaches in 2022, staying on as a consultant. Due to business circumstances, John assumed

ownership of the company in November 2025.

As of this writing, John resides in Nashville, TN.

William G. “Bill” Campbell

Life Years: Mar 27, 1922 – Feb 8, 2020 (Age 97)

Bus Years: 1969 – 1996

William G. “Bill” Campbell was born in 1922 and raised in Bronxville, NY. After high school he

served in the US Army during World War II. He graduated from Lehigh University with a degree

in mechanical engineering and began employment with Heinz Manufacturing, where he

established their quality control department. In 1956, Bill began employment with George Hurst,

incorporating Hurst-Campbell Inc. During the muscle car era, they designed and built an after-

market 3-speed shifter known as the Hurst Shifter. It was extremely popular with drag racing and

hot-rodding enthusiasts.

The Hurst-Campbell company also invented a product called the Hurst Rescue Tool. Around

1961, Bill read about a truck accident in the Philadelphia area. The driver died moments before

rescue workers were able to extract him from the crushed cab of his truck. Prior to this invention,

rescuers would use circular saws which caused sparks or compromised stability of the vehicle.

This led to fires or possibly injuring the victims further. The Hurst Rescue Tool is today known

as the Jaws of Life.

In 1968, businessmen Thomas Harbison and Bill Campbell formed a partnership with Andre

Normand, President of Prevost Car Inc., from 1969 to 1996, and became the company’s sole

owners. Bill is credited as the engineer of the first Prevost Le Mirage bus. Bill and his wife

would tour the country in their motorhome in the late 1980’s, visiting each entertainer bus

company. Bill kept a tiny spiral notebook in his front pocket and would take notes about issues

companies were having, then take it back to Prevost engineers. When Prevost Car Inc. was sold

to Volvo in 1996, Bill retired.

Bill Campbell passed away February 8 th , 2020 while residing in Downington, PA.