As a factory worker, Donald Hills didn’t often get to see the sun. “I’d start before the sun rose and end after it had set, especially during winter,” Hills said. “And, I had to work a lot of overtime just to make ends meet.”  

So in his 30s, Hills applied for a job that came with a window to the world. His 30-year career as a bus operator began at Ruter Garage, then known as Shingle Creek. There, he met Martin J. Ruter. “I remember being surprised when I met him. He asked me to help him figure out how to use the parking brake on a new type of bus,” Hills said. “That showed me early on that no matter how long you’ve been on the job there's always something new to learn and a new bus to master.”  

At the start of his career, Hills faced some difficulties. He credits Sam Jacobs, then a manager at Shingle Creek, for keeping him on track with a simple question – “What’s wrong?” “I wouldn’t be here all these years later if he hadn’t asked me that question,” he said. Hills also recalls how nervous he was about working nights. He relaxed, but not before earning the nickname “rookie” from regular customers. “Looking back, I shouldn’t have been so sacred,” he said. “You just need to talk to people onboard and you’ll be alright.”

Hills’ 30-year career was preceded by a childhood in Minneapolis, where he grew up riding the old Route 26 with his mother to downtown. Today, the driveway to one of his old houses is a bus stop along Highway 252.

Hills retired in early 2021. In retirement, he and his wife planned to travel the country with a camper in tow. As a history buff, Hills was especially excited to visit Civil War sites along the east coast and other historical landmarks.