A Purcell native that wanted to get back to his hometown to work had his dream come true a couple of years ago.

That’s when David Hyde went to work for the Purcell School District in the transportation department.

Hyde walked across the graduation stage for his high school diploma in 2009 and has been a licensed journeyman plumbing for 10 years.

Hyde holds a National Certified Medical gas installer/brazing license and worked in commercial construction across Oklahoma.

Now Hyde spends his time keeping Purcell’s bus fleet up and running.

“I have to do maintenance repairs on the buses to make sure all the vehicles are ready to go for whatever trips may be happening,” Hyde said.

Hyde doubles as a mechanic and bus driver.

“One of my biggest challenges is getting everything accomplished making sure everything is tip top and ready to go for the day,” Hyde said.

His day starts bright and early around 6 a.m. to get the fleet prepared for the day.

His primary route is driving Route 3, “which has a few stops in town and goes down southwest of town and on the south side of the district all the way down to basically the farthest southern part of our district.”

To make his complete route, Hyde reports it takes him about an hour and 15 minutes.

“It’s fulfilling,” Hyde said of being the captain of a school bus.

Hyde reports Purcell has a total of seven regular buses and six activity buses.

In addition to the regular bus drivers, also behind the wheel from time to time are teachers and coaches when student athletes are on team sporting trips.

“They all have commercial driver’s licenses,” Hyde said.

Purcell’s buses don’t have to worry about going to a gas station to refuel.

“We have a fuel yard here at the school by the transportation building,” Hyde confirmed.

In his role as a mechanic, Hyde said there is one particular bus that gives him the most problems.

“They all have their own quirks,” Hyde said of school vehicles.

“I enjoy driving a bus for sure,” he said. “It’s fulfilling.”

The question was posed to Hyde if the district still needed bus drivers?

“Always,” came his quick and to the point answer.