Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 1, 2010
34th annual Metrobus Roadeo showcases operator, maintenance skills
Best operator, mechanics will represent Metro at International Roadeo
A Metrobus operator and a three-person mechanic team earned the opportunity to represent Metro at the International Bus Roadeo next April by demonstrating their superior driving and mechanical skills and winning in their respective categories during the 34th Annual Metrobus Roadeo.
Joseph Bazemore, of the District of Columbia, placed first in the operator’s competition. Truc Hoang, of Centreville, Va.; William Morgan, of Mitchellville, Md.; and Locksley McKenzie, of Fredericksburg, Va., captured first place honors as the top mechanic team during the Sept. 25 competition.
Metro’s annual Roadeo and the international contest allow participants to demonstrate and improve their professional skills while competing in timed events. Safety, speed and personal appearance are all factors in judging competitors.
In the operator competition, drivers were evaluated on such skills as judgment stops, intersection turns, obstacle avoidance and pre-trip inspections. Mechanics were graded on their ability to identify engine, brake, transmission, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning problems.
Bazemore is a member of Metro’s Million Mile Club, having driven 2.1 million (safe) miles without a preventable accident. He operates from the Southern Avenue Division and began at Metro in October 1987. McKenzie and Morgan work at the Carmen Turner Facility and began at Metro in July 1985 and August 1986 respectively. Hoang works at the Bladensburg Division and began at Metro in May 1997.
Other top finishers in the Metrobus Roadeo were:
Operator category
• Second place – Kenneth Lee, of Bowie, Md. He is a member of Metro’s Million Mile Club, having driven 1.5 million safe miles. He operates from the Landover Division and began at Metro in July 1991.
• Third place – Charles A. Jackson, of Clinton, Md. He is also member of Metro’s Million Mile Club with two million safe miles. He operates from the Southern Avenue Division and began at Metro in September 1972.
Mechanic category
• Second place – Major Muhammad, of the District of Columbia; Isaiah Bryant, Jr., of Springdale, Md.; and Antonio McPherson, of Clinton, Md. They all work at the Landover Division. Muhammad began at Metro in November 1992, Bryant in August 1985, and McPherson in November 2001.
• Third place – Kevin Russell, of Landover Hills, Md.; Kelvin Hall, of King George, Va.; and Adam Mentzer, of Centreville, Va. Hall and Mentzer work at the West Ox Division, and Russell works at the Four Mile Run Division. Hall began at Metro in June 1989. Mentzer and Russell began at Metro in February and April 2007 respectively.
The International Bus Roadeo will take place in Memphis, Tenn., in April 2011. Morgan, McKenzie and Hoang finished seventh among 26 teams at the 2010 International Roadeo, contributing to an overall fourth place finish by Metro.
News release issued at 4:38 pm, October 1, 2010.