Beloved bus driver celebrates 80th birthday, 40 years serving Giltner Public Schools [Video]

GILTNER, Neb. (KOLN) – About 250 kids attend Giltner Public Schools, and Jim Happold knows most of them from the moment they first step onto his school bus.

“I love the smaller schools,” Jim said. “There’s more one-on-one situations and you know every kid and all of the little kids.”

Jim takes students on field trips and to competitions, and he even takes time to cheer on the Hornets when he’s not on the clock.

“He takes us to all of the activities like speech meets, band concerts and choir stuff,” said Sophie Faltys, a senior at Giltner. “Even at 6 o‘clock in the morning when nobody wants to be awake, he’s always happy to see us.”

Jim starts bright and early at 5:15 a.m., making sure his bus is spick and span.

“If it’s a blizzard in the wintertime and it’s dirty, you’ll probably see him out there washing …