After 35 years of riding TANK to work, John Rouster is retiring — so surprise curbside party was in order

By Vicki Prichard
NKyTribune Reporter

Back in 1984, John Rouster was featured in a local TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) advertisement, weighing in with his testimonial about why taking the TANK bus to work made sense for him.

“Travel time is a major factor for me in riding TANK. If I drove home, I would have a long walk to the stadium parking area and have to fight traffic to get out of town. I board TANK a short distance from the office and get home at about the same time as if I drove,” Rouster said, beneath a black and white photo that featured the young Great American Insurance senior systems analyst at his keyboard, sporting his signature mustache.

Travel time remained a factor for many years for Rouster, who on Wednesday afternoon was surprised by friends, neighbors and family who gathered along Dixie Highway in Fort Mitchell for a very public celebration of his retirement — and his 35 years of taking the TANK bus to and from work each work day. Rouster will retire from Great American Insurance on April 1 after 37 years with the company.

Lesley Holgate, assistant communications director with TANK, was on hand to present Rouster with a certificate of appreciation for choosing TANK for his decades-long commute to and from work.

“We wanted to recognize him,” says Holgate. “He’s obviously dedicated and it’s obviously worked for him; he’s been a professional at Great American for 37 years.”

Since April 1, 1990, Rouster, who lives on Thompson Avenue in Fort Mitchell with his wife Pam, has walked to Dixie Highway to catch a TANK bus every workday. Prior to that, he rode the bus to work from their home in Independence.

Rouster’s wife Pam strategically orchestrated the surprise for her husband, including neighbors, family, friends – and even his fellow TANK passengers – in the surprise.

By 4:25 pm, the crowd was waiting at the TANK bus stop at Dixie and Highland Avenues, with banners, balloons and noisemakers as Rouster stepped off the bus. They donned fake, bushy mustaches in tribute of the guest of honor. After their surprise welcome along Dixie Highway, the crowed led him down Thompson Avenue – lined with balloons and signs of good wishes – to a celebratory gathering at his home.

Rouster’s daughter Ashley, who lives in Lexington, came home for the event and was part of the daylong ruse. She met her father for lunch and rode the bus home with him. She says that, for her father, riding the bus for was about “building community” with the passengers he came to know over the years.

“Everybody has said that he is the person everybody knows,” says Ashley. “He’s just never met a stranger. I’m very proud to be his daughter.”

Over the years, Rouster says passengers get to know one another and are thoughtful and caring with gestures such as giving cards when a family member passes away.

They also take note of important milestones, such as retirement.

“When I got on the bus this morning, everybody turned around and they all had one of these pictures of me,” says Rouster, referring to the paper masks in his likeness, which his wife Pam created.

Rouster says that throughout his career he never considered driving to work.

“One, I don’t really like to drive, so TANK makes it a lot easier,” he says.” They drop me off close to where I work and I’m only three blocks from here, so I never had to drive.”

And, he says, there have been memorable moments.

“I was telling people about some of the snow adventures on the bus, where it really snows and you get caught up in long ride time; but those were okay because I left the driving to TANK. So it was great,” he says.

Rouster’s mother-in-law, Ruth Glaser, who attended the surprise celebration, recalled a time long ago, when she too relied on public transportation along that very route on Dixie Highway.

“I took dance in Covington and every time I had a lesson we’d take the street car,” says Glaser, who is 91-years-old. “It ran right along here.”

Today, more than 30 years after his initial endorsement, Rouster remains an advocate for TANK.

“People have to try it. It’s a great way of going to work,” he says. “I catch it every morning and it’s within one minute every day. So I know exactly when it’s coming. It runs like clockwork.”