Pete Hillberry is a true original, a guy who will be missed by many when he steps down from the driver’s seat of an Island Transit bus for the last time June 30.

Hillberry, who turns 65 on June 24, was one of the original 20 Island Transit employees when the system began its first bus runs up and down Whidbey Island 18 years ago. When he’s gone, there will be only two originals left: Martha Rose, who is now Island Transit director, and Phyllis Brett, who has risen through the ranks to service development administrator.

Rose will be among the many saddened to see Hillberry leave. “He’s fantastic, he has a real rapport with people,” she said. “People have fun on Pete’s bus and he’s great with the youth. He’s an ambassador for our system.”

Hillberry hasn’t been counting, but he is certain he’s put over a million miles on the odomoter over the past 18 years, all on Whidbey Island. He drives the main route, down the highway and back, from Oak Harbor to Clinton, every work day. “I’m in the million mile club, just on the island,” he said.

He’s driven in all kinds of weather and dealt with all kinds of passengers, but he’s never put a dent in a bus and he’s never had a serious problem with an unruly passenger.

The most trouble Hillberry can remember came from a drunk who boarded the bus at Keystone. He loudly demanded to be taken to the Anacortes ferry terminal, even though that’s not anywhere near an Island Transit route. Hillberry wanted him off the bus, but he knew the man would cause trouble if asked. When the drunk passed out, Hillberry saw his chance. Upon arriving at the brightly lit bus stop at Dairy Queen in Oak Harbor, Hillberry yelled out, “Anacortes!” The drunk woke up and jumped off the bus, no doubt hoping the next ferry to the San Juan was only minutes away. Hillberry drove off knowing the man wouldn’t be able to hassle any of his other passengers.

Aside from that one man, Hillberry recalls only good times as a bus driver. “I really enjoy the people that ride the bus,” he said. “They’re just a great bunch of people.”

Hillberry will even miss the teenagers, some of whom look a little scary with spiked hair, tattoos, black clothing and studs protruding from various appendages. He’s learned that appearances mean little. “The teens are enjoyable,” he said fondly. “Ninety-nine percent of them say ‘thank you’ when they get off the bus. That really helps; they have a lot of respect for me.”

Island Transit started operating with only five buses and no marked bus stops, so the early days were confusing for prospective riders. And the highway was a lot narrower then. “People would be jumping out of the bushes, we’d be stopping every block,” Hillberry said with a laugh.

Now, most riders get on and off at marked bus stops, although drivers will still stopped when flagged down if there’s room to get all four wheels off the highway. Today Island Transit has 46 buses of various lengths and another 15 on order, plus a fleet of 104 vanpool vehicles.

Hillberry never gets tired of the island scenery, unlike one woman rider who complained to him, “I hate green!” That prompted him to start counting shades of green and he came up with 15 in just half a mile. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “But I didn’t argue with her.”

As for his remarkable safety record, Hillberry attributes his accident-free driving to keeping cool when others on the road aren’t. Drivers cut him off and speed past him, but he doesn’t react. “I just give them the right-of-way, it’s not a big deal. I don’t get angry,” he said. “I’ve never had a single fender-bender, not even a scratch.”

Hillberry joined Island Transit after retiring from the Navy, now he’s retiring from his second career. He and his wife Carolyn already have plans.

“I grew up in Wyoming, I’m going back for the summer,” he said.

Naturally, he’s driving.