By Alan Thrasher

I just returned from the funeral of Frank Montgomery in Montgomery.

It is hard for me to describe what it was like; surreal doesnt do it justice.

All of us have spent time at state association meetings, marketplaces and expos, socializing with exceptional people. Most of us get to know the spirit of the person from the free time together in the evening. Many knew Frank Montgomery from these special times. You couldnt spend time with Frank without getting to know him.

There were at least 30 coach industry professionals lining the walls of the chapel full of 200 family members, friends, drivers and employees. Many from the Trailways family, from California to Rhode Island, rushed to Alabama to pay respects to a true visionary of the brand. They sat surrounded by associates from our manufacturers and industry.

All wanted to be there for the funeral of a 40-year-old vibrant spirit with four children, two hometowns, five operations centers, not to mention the great-grandson of the 1930 company founder of Capital Trailways.

The loss to the coach industry is indescribable. Frank served the ABA, UMA, AMA and Trailways. He visited every state meeting in the southeast, just as he had served in every company position as he grew up. He served the greater good of the motorcoach industry nationwide, and had friends from everywhere there to prove that. Our loss will be felt for years, as Frank was the young visionary we all want to be.

Frank proved to be larger than life as an emcee and host of industry events. His good nature radiated from the stage as he unabashedly served his Southern hospitality at industry events.

But, suddenly, his life ended in a tragic accident. He was ripped from ours lives so suddenly that the shock knocked the air out of many of us.

It was one of the saddest moments of our lives. Our professional lives are enhanced to know such as Frank Montgomery. Still very young, he had held and was expected to hold many more prestigious positions of influence in our industry. It was surreal to look around and see the industry that is normally so jovial be so full of unplanned grief. We sniffed our way through the service while a beautiful violin played an ode to his life. The words spoken were blurred by the overwhelming realization that he was gone.

As we filed out, there were two Trailways coaches parked out front, one bringing staff from Mobile, the other bringing fellow Alabama operators down from Birmingham. The Trailways coaches reminded us of where Frank had dedicated his professional life.

Afterward, I dropped by my church to pray that the Lord would take this guy to his eternal happiness. May God rest easy the wild, fun soul of the man we all knew as Frank Montgomery III, owner of Capital, Colonial, and Southern Trailways. We will always miss and remember him forever. Please keep his family and staff in your prayers.