2025 inducted owners

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Jim Bodenheimer

Bus years: 1974 – Present

Jim Bodenheimer was raised in Philadelphia, PA. In 1971 while still in college, someone came to

him with a trucking problem and Jim helped out. This was a touring music sound company that

was just starting out. Jim’s involvement quickly evolved into Jim starting a business of trucks,

buses and airplanes called Egotrips. One of Jim’s trucking clients was the band Aerosmith. In

1974 they asked Jim for assistance with a tour bus. He went to Nashville and started working

with bus company owner Curly Jones. Jim soon started working with Jack & Jerry Calhoun at

Florida Coach, and Ray Shelton at Senators Coaches. In 2017, Jim sold the trucking division of

Egotrips and shut down airplane activity. He kept the bus division and evolved it into Starliner

Charters, which is still in operation.

As of this writing, Jim resides in Boca Raton, FL.

Jimmy Klein

Life years: Jan 30, 1930 – Nov 29, 2020, age 90

Bus years: 1970’s – 2010

Jimmy Klein was born Jan 30, 1930 and raised in San Antonio, TX. After high school he served

in the US Army from 1950 – 1953 as a paratrooper and parachute instructor in Fort Benning,

GA. Jimmy returned to San Antonio and began working at Bell South telephone company. He

and a friend purchased a nightclub called the Silver Spur, and their first act was George Jones.

After the show, George told Jimmy that he needed a manager, and Jimmy accepted. Jimmy

remained in this role for the next 17 years. During this time, he became manager of Grapevine

Records, moving to Beaumont, TX and then Nashville. Jimmy drove entertainer buses for

various artists and companies in the early 1970’s, starting with Milo Liggett at Loch Raven

Coach. He was the very first driver, driving the very first bus for Hemphill Coach Company in

1974. The tour he drove was Rufus and Chaka Khan. He was truly a pioneer in the bus leasing

industry, when it was first getting started and in its infancy. Around this time, he began working

for Joe Sullivan at Sound 70 Productions, managing artists performing at Nashville Municipal

Auditorium. One of the artists that came through was Charlie Daniels. Charlie was traveling in

two extended cargo vans, and Jimmy told Charlie that he should just get a converted tour bus.

Charlie told Jimmy to build it for him, so Jimmy did. Jimmy found an old white Scenicruiser and

converted it in his driveway in Brentwood. Then other bands started asking Jimmy to do the

same thing. Jimmy rented a shop and Kline’s Custom Coach became a business. Jimmy operated

the company from 1975 until he retired in 1995 and turned it over to his sons Jay and Jeff.

Jimmy continued to work at the business as a consultant until about 2010.

Jimmy passed away on November 29, 2020 while residing in Nolansville, TN.