Volume 3

On the Road with “Red Leader” Year 2001: Trips, Celebrations, and Change

Some people call Ed Lonsbary, President of Private Motor Coach, Inc., visionary for his creative concept of travel via a “house-on-wheels.” Others say he is a dream-maker enabling them to take a trip not possible any other way. There are those who describe him as an angel for a compassionate trip to a health care facility. And, then there are travelers who simply describe Ed as fun to be around, maybe even a little crazy. Known on the road as “Red Leader,” Ed traversed the U.S. and Canada taking his MCI 9 motor coach more than 25,000 miles in year 2001.
 
Motorcoach Industry 2001 Vision Award goes to Private Motor Coach, Inc.

Private Motor Coach, Inc. President Ed Lonsbary and wife Patty accepted the Motorcoach Industry 2001Vision Award, an honor bestowed by the United Motorcoach Association. The Vision Award recognizes Private Motor Coach, Inc. as being a dynamic leader in the safe transportation of people with unique needs and in a manner that enhances lifestyles. The award acknowledges commitments to safety, excellence in operation and service, innovation in marketing, product development and social responsibility.

Julie Anna Cirillo, Acting Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, presented the Vision Award to the Lonsbary’s at the United Motorcoach Expo 2001 in Atlantic City, New Jersey City on February 6th.
 
“Riders Wanted” Ad in FMCA Magazine is the Start of a Dream Come True

An RV dealer in New York showed Mimi Cocks the ad: “Riders Wanted: 50 year old retired corporate executive, ready to live his dream and hit the road in a fully equipped MCI motor coach. Will be happy to chaperone nice people ‘Anywhere-Anytime’.” Mimi dreamed about traveling in a RV but knew that she could not manage such a trip alone. In September, her dream came true traveling in “Patty’s Charm” from Pittsburgh west at her own pace. What did she see during her five week cross-country trip? A rodeo in Rapid City, South Dakota; Aladdin, Wyoming – population 15; Yellowstone National Park; Red Lodge, Montana; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Mount Rushmore; the Grand Tetons; Crazy Horse Monument; the famous Wall Drug in South Dakota and more.

After this trip of a lifetime, Mimi says her next trip with Private Motor Coach, Inc. will take her through Alaska in 2003.
 
Compassionate Volunteers Make Medical Trip to John Hopkins Possible

“There but for the grace of God I go…” Treatment for Jamie Lewis’ illness necessitated care at John Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, --a great distance from her Omaha, Nebraska home. Too sick to fly or travel by car, Jamie was referred to the Angel Bus Network. Angel Bus, Inc. is a South Dakota based nonprofit corporation dedicated to coordinating a nationwide volunteer network of emergency ground transportation for persons facing life-threatening illness or injury. To help Jamie, Angel Bus recruited three drivers with coaches equipped with beds and bathrooms aboard, Private Motor Coach, Inc. was one of the recruits. This three-legged run from Nebraska to Maryland ferried Jamie and her husband at no cost to receive her medical care.
 
Private Motor Coach, Inc. Participates in International Tourist Guide Day
 
Private Motor Coach, Inc. also donated its services in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, February 24th for the observance of the International Tourist Guide Day. In partnership with the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C., “Patty’s Charm” rolled through the capital city on a two-hour guided tour of our national monuments and memorials. On board were a select group of dignitaries: Virginia E. Hayes Williams, mother of Washington’s Mayor Anthony Williams, Judith Witt of the American Bus Association, President of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington Jane W. North, and Licensed Tour Guide Sandra Sheskin. Private Motor Coach, Inc. was one of 18 ABA member motor coach companies who participated in this special event. The event celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, promotes the appreciation of tourism, and recognizes the contribution of the professional tour guide.
 
The Stowaway
 
Most people wanting to take a trip on board “Patty’s Charm” call the Private Motor Coach, Inc. office to discuss their plans, pick a date, then pack and go! Not so with a January traveler. On a New Year’s visit to see Ed’s parents Jean and Harvey Lonsbary in Ingersoll, Ontario, “Patty’s Charm” plowed through piles of snow to celebrate the Lonsbary’s belated Christmas. When the gift exchanging and family visits came to an end, Ed readied the motor coach for the drive back to Pennsylvania. Daughter Suzie handed him suitcases from the snowy path leading from Nanny’s (Jean Lonsbary) house. When Ed asked Suzie about the number of bags and cases, Suzie shrugged and said, “This is Nanny’s stuff.” In his usual attentive way, Ed just kept stowing the bags. Only Suzie knew the secret…Nanny showed up at the coach and climbed on board. “Take me to Pennsylvania!” she said. Nanny stayed with us in Pittsburgh for a week before deciding to return to Canada.
 
Football Fans Arrive in Style to Cheer for their Teams

Augie Pullo of Bangor, Pennsylvania treated himself and three of his friends to a trip aboard “Patty’s Charm.” These football fans traveled to two games: PITT vs. Notre Dame and a Sunday Packers game in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Likewise, Matt Littleton of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania gathered college buddies and his parents for a run from Pittsburgh to South Bend. They enjoyed a football game featuring the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Michigan State.
 
No Special Occasion, Just Needed a Driver

Their annual trek south was threatened until Chris and Thelma DeCarlo heard about Private Motor Coach, Inc. They simply needed a ride to their winter home in Palm Beach, Florida. They were pleased when they found http://www.privatemotorcoach.com on the Internet. Before the snow started to fly around their Morristown, New Jersey home, Ed had the DeCarlos and their two peppy poodles in sunny Florida.
 
Best Wishes to the Newlyweds
 
Every Bride should get her “Wedding Wish.” In this case, the wish came true with “little sister” Suzie Wassel’s artistic talent and “brother” Christopher Wassel’s handiwork with duct tape. Add in a stretch of the imagination and Voila! “Patty’s Charm” no longer bore the MCI logo; handmade signs of the BMW emblem duct-taped to the coach hid any trace of its MCI identity. The bride Lisa Harrold laughed aloud when she saw the clever attempt to disguise the motor coach as a “BMW.” This joke set her at ease, at least temporarily, for the ride to the church with her bridesmaids, flower girls, and future in-laws – Patty and Ed Lonsbary.

The nervous groom, Jason Wassel, waited inside Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. When he heard the familiar toot of the coach air horn, he knew his bride got to the church on time.

Jason and Lisa professed their love on June 9, 2001 in the Sacrament of Marriage before family and friends.

Following the ceremony, the entire bridal party boarded the coach for a ride to the reception. Enroute the group toasted the newlyweds with champagne and chilled bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Again, blasts from the air horns let the waiting guests know that Jason and Lisa arrived at the reception.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Jason Wassel! 
 
More Good Wishes for a Happy Future

Another celebration preceded the Wassel wedding…this one for Andrew Lonsbary and Cindy Tolten. 

For this occasion, Ed, Suzie, and Suzie’s friend Lisa Marshall traveled from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia Airport to rendezvous with Patty who had been working on an assignment in Michigan for Ketchum, Inc. Then, the group traveled onward to West Chester to see Andrew and Cindy. The coach served as family accommodations for the night and a comfortable place for Andrew and Cindy to visit on the eve of their special day. That night, for the first time the glimmer of an engagement ring sparkled on Cindy’s finger.

The following day marked the joyful celebration of Andrew and Cindy’s engagement and congratulatory wishes to Andrew for his graduation from Penn State University.
The wedding date is June 1, 2002.
     
Other Achievements

Although the motorcoach “Patty’s Charm” did not play a role in two other special occasions, they must be mentioned as important events for the Lonsbary Family (or “Swassenbary’s as Suzie likes to say).

Son Christopher Wassel graduated on June 15th among the Class of 2001 from North Allegheny High School. During his last year of high school, Chris often did his duty for the family business. When he wasn’t fishing, working at Wal Mart, or riding around in his Acura “Zippy,” Chris was regularly enlisted to wash “Patty’s Charm.” He is credited with the high shine on the motor coach stainless steel sides having spent many hours buffing the finish to a mirror-like glow. Chris has now started his college career at Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania – a school close to his favorite northern fishing streams and Lake Erie, and too far away to be called on for a bus wash! 

On May 5, 2001, Patty Lonsbary accepted her diploma at the 41st Commencement Ceremony of Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Patty earned her International Masters of Business Administration (IMBA) under the direction of Dr. Dimetrius Kraniou.

Patty’s studies benefited Private Motor Coach, Inc. in many ways. Her classroom projects developed marketing strategies and an international business plan for the company. She also independently researched travel trends generating data of importance to the forward-looking vision for corporate growth. Patty is now employed as a Consultant for Ketchum, Inc., the largest fund-raising consulting firm in the United States.

Too young to graduate or get married, daughter Suzie Wassel enjoyed other honors for her English style riding. She earned several ribbons for her jumping skills in competitions at BCXR Horse Center in Troup, Texas and at the Silver Crest Stables in Valencia, Pennsylvania.
 
Private Motor Coach, Inc. Moves to Texas

Amid the trips, celebrations, and honors, Private Motor Coach, Inc. moved its operations from Pittsburgh’s Gibsonia suburb to Whitehouse, Texas. “Where’s Whitehouse?” everybody asks! This little town, population 5303, is in the Piney Woods of Texas and approximately 95 miles east of Dallas.

President Ed Lonsbary selected Whitehouse for its strategic geographic location to serve those travelers wishing to explore the United States, Mexico, and Central America. The company address is 209 Old Tyler Road, Whitehouse, Texas 75791. The new telephone number is 903-839-6262. And the fax number is 903-839-9955. The toll free number remains

1-800-936-5265.

From this location, Private Motor Coach, Inc. continues to offer the unique opportunity of travel aboard a luxury motorhome/bus conversion. Two to ten people, and well-behaved pets too, can venture into new territories or well-loved places. Each trip is customized for individual travel requests.
 
The Wraps

The move to Texas, customer trips, and family celebrations left no time for “Patty’s Charm” to participate in any rallies in 2001. Nevertheless, there were opportunities to visit with some of our special rally friends. On a trip to Hartford, Connecticut, Patty enjoyed dinner with Jean and Bob Hadley – friends met at the Rotary International RV Fellowship Rally in Gettysburg. And, Ed stayed with George and Sue Myers of Epic Conversion Support at their Ohio home. Just as these warm people opened their doors to us, it is our wish to open our doors to all of our friends and family. Our new home sets on three wooded acres with a 40-foot pad, water/sewage hook-ups, and electricity. So, come to Texas for a visit. Our “pad” is your “pad.” 

Our motto is... "Anywhere - Anytime"