Exhibit Shares Roots Of Local Bus Legacy
New Notables Display At Grundy County Museum Honors Meeks
The Meek bus fleet grew from a borrowed car into a transportation operation that eventually held contracts with 28 school districts.
Verlin Meek and his family built an early school bus on a 1933 Chevy truck chassis, helping launch a transportation business that eventually served multiple area districts.
Verlin Meek’s first “bus” was his father’s 1928 Chevy sedan, which he used to transport students to Trenton during the Great Depression.
Verlin Meek purchased his first factory-built bus in 1939 as his school transportation business continued to grow.
Verlin and Kathleen Meek built a school bus legacy from humble beginnings, with Kathleen keeping the books for the family business.
Gabe Stark
Reporter
The Grundy County Museum has opened a new group of summer exhibits as part of its annual “Notables of Grundy County” display. The exhibit features five former Grundy County residents whose lives, work and service left a lasting impact locally and beyond.
One of this year’s featured displays honors Verlin and Kathleen Meek, whose transportation business began with a borrowed car and grew into a regional school bus legacy.
The Notables of Grundy County exhibits are expected to remain on display through October. Admission to the Grundy County Museum is free.
Early life & career
Verlin Meek was born on a small farm near Brimson and attended Nights Town School during his elementary years. Because Brimson High School had only a three-year program at the time, he chose to attend Trenton High School for his senior year so he could complete a four-year education.
During the Great Depression, paying for school was difficult. Verlin used his father Frank’s 1928 Chevy sedan to transport other students to Trenton. Each rider paid 50 cents per week and sometimes had to help push the car through mud or snow.
When Verlin wanted to marry Kathleen Myers of Edinburg, he needed a way to earn more than farm work provided. He and his family built a school bus on a 1933 Chevy truck chassis. His grandfather, Albert Cross, did the carpentry, and his future father-in-law, Wordson Myers, helped with metal work.
The bus included side benches and a kerosene stove fastened to the floor for warmth. During the 1937-38 school year, Verlin received contracts to transport students from Edinburg, Brimson, Cole and Prairie Chapel districts.
Verlin and Kathleen married Nov. 8, 1937, after driving the bus to Chillicothe. According to the museum display, they celebrated with a can of beans given to them by the minister.
Kathleen kept the business books, even though she had not finished high school or received accounting training. During hard times, Verlin sometimes accepted feed for cows and chickens as payment from families who could not afford bus fare.
As the business grew, the Meeks added buses, routes, activity trips and charter trips. Verlin eventually obtained contracts with 28 school districts.
After 40 years in bus contracting, Verlin retired in 1974. The Trenton R-IX School District held a dinner in his honor at the S.M. Rissler school cafeteria.