by Carrie Moritz, Gazette
Five years ago, lifetime Garretson resident Tom Godbey was theoretically retired. Then, he learned that Garretson High School Principal Chris Long was driving a bus on top of all his other responsibilities, due to a shortage of available drivers. He decided that had to change, and took it upon himself to take the exams and physicals required to be able to drive a school bus.
"There are five hoops you gotta jump through to get it," he said, listing off the CDL exam and skills test, a bus maintenance skills test, a bus driving skills test, and a physical.
He found out quickly that the job was a good fit for him, and he intends to keep going as long as he can- "at least until I'm 79," he said.
"It's the best thing I ever did, and I love it," said Godbey.
As part of their duties, all drivers escort the sports teams to the away games. Normally, they do it on a rotating basis, signing up for shifts as they can and accepting assignments when a spot hasn't been signed for.
When Godbey started, he discovered his favorite teams to drive for were the volleyball and girls' basketball teams, and after his first two years, asked his co-workers if he could take all those assignments. They agreed, and he became the de facto volleyball and girls' basketball driver.
A group of 7 girls were on both teams throughout the past five years, and he drove them as they played from 8th grade until this year, their senior year.
"I called them the 'Magnificent Seven'," said Godbey. "That first game [I drove for], they beat Tea."
The team helped Garretson High School turn a corner, athletically speaking. In the three years prior to the Magnificent Seven's sophomore year, Garretson's win-loss score was 1-67 in volleyball. For the past three years, it was 39-35. For 2020 alone, it was 18-4.
Godbey wanted to find a way to show his appreciation for the senior girls, not to celebrate their wins, but to celebrate their spirit of respect, dedication, and responsibility.
"You're the girls that got up a 5:00 a.m. for a 6:00 a.m. practice. Put in a full day of school. Then started all over again the next day," he wrote, in a speech he gave to the players.
They always showed him respect, he said, and he wanted to let them know. During their final volleyball season, he thought about just writing a card, but didn't think it would be enough.
"Karla suggested I take them out to dinner," he said, referring to his wife. On March 25, he took the seven players and the two head coaches, Volleyball Coach Dennis Northrup and Basketball Coach Matt Schrank, to Tailgators in Brandon. Between appetizers and the main meal, he read them a speech that expressed his appreciation for their sportsmanship.
He noted that he read the speech because he tends to have trouble speaking in front of groups due to a stutter, and was proud of how well it went.
He spoke of the bond he felt with the players, developed over the course of 64 drives to games.
"When you won, I felt your joy," he wrote. "And when you lost, I felt your pain." These girls, he said, weren't just someone he drove to a game on the bus.
"You're someone that for five months out of a year for four years I grew up with. It was an honor and pleasure to transport you."
"I was thanked again and again," he said, noting the players also expressed their appreciation for his dedication to their team.
He believes he's started a new tradition, and plans to continue the appreciation dinner in future years. He's grateful to his colleagues, Tim Nelson, Gary Winterton, and Reid Nelson, who have allowed him to drive for all those games. He plans to continue driving the two teams as consistently as he can, knowing that the sportsmanship the senior girls left in their wake will go on.
