About Us
George Minor Winn, our founder, was the youngest of four children born to George and Annie Winn in Mineral, Virginia. He completed his education through the seventh grade. In 1940, at 28 years old, he was married with a baby daughter and worked as a truck driver. His work involved strenuous emergency conservation efforts for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a program under Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal designed to employ thousands of young men in national conservation projects.
One particularly hot summer day, while driving a conservation truck, he was overtaken by a new Trailways bus on the highway. Through the sweat on his face, he observed the driver and passengers appearing cool, comfortable, and completely at ease despite the oppressive heat. The very next day, he applied for a driving position with Trailways and was soon hired, assigned a daily route. He drove buses throughout Virginia's roads and highways, earning significant respect from his colleagues and superiors.
After several years of driving, he was promoted to a management position within Trailways, taking on the role of Assistant Station Manager in Lynchburg, Virginia. This position allowed him to learn the operational aspects of the bus business, drive occasionally, and establish valuable contacts crucial for his future ambition of starting his own bus company. Over the subsequent years, George advanced within Trailways, serving as assistant station manager, station manager, manager-of-drivers, and ultimately, regional manager.
With this experience, George decided to venture out on his own. He began searching for a used bus and found a 1942 GMC PD2903, an older Trailways bus that had been retired from their fleet. Despite its many miles, it was a familiar model and seemed like a perfect starting point. The only hurdle was securing enough money to purchase it. With remarkable confidence, George approached his boss at Trailways, Claude Jessup, and shared his dream of starting his own company. Mr. Jessup, despite knowing it meant George would leave the Trailways family, generously loaned him the $400 he needed to begin his new business.
A Dream Realized
Winn Bus Lines has become a truly beloved and recognized part of Richmond, Virginia. Our journey began in March 1958 when George Minor Winn officially incorporated the company. With a loan from his former Trailways boss, George proudly launched what would become Winn Bus Lines.
Like many great ventures, our beginnings were humble, and we faced some early challenges. Our very first recorded charter was a "line run" from Richmond to Charlottesville in 1958. This first route brought immense hope, marking the initial steps for a young Winn Bus Lines.
Acquisition of Virginia’s oldest bus company
Perhaps the most notable accomplishment was the purchase of Virginia’s oldest bus company, Virginia Tours in 1966. Virginia Tours was incorporated in 1925 and joined the Trailways family in 1938. Oddly enough, the man who had loaned George Winn the money to start Winn Bus Lines (Claude Jessup) was his boss and the president of Virginia Stage Lines (Trailways). With the acquisition of Virginia Tours, Winn Bus Lines became a part of the oldest continually operated bus company in the Commonwealth of Virginia and holds that distinction to this day.
Captain Chuck Brent with beloved Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr.
Becoming a Nationally recognized Company
Winn Bus Lines has always been at the forefront of innovation in the motorcoach industry. In the 1950s, we were proud to introduce air-conditioning and onboard restrooms, significantly enhancing passenger comfort. The 1980s saw further advancements with the addition of radios and entertainment systems. Today, computer-controlled engines and new engine applications are taking the industry to an entirely new level, and we are excited to be a part of it.
Following George's retirement in 1983, his son-in-law, Robert "Bob" Pounders, took over the company and propelled the business to new heights. Bob was instrumental in coining the term "motorcoach" and revolutionized the passenger experience by equipping our motorcoaches with amenities like curtains, wall-to-wall carpeting, and uniformed drivers, drawing inspiration from the airline industry.
Winn Bus Lines began in the last century with a single vision: to provide transportation that would meet the needs of people in a small part of Virginia. Today, Winn Bus Lines is still a Christian family-owned and operated business, offering a diverse fleet that includes motorcoaches, mini-coaches, vans, shuttles, transit buses, limousines, executive sedans, and trolleys, along with a dedicated tour division.
The company remains small enough to provide a personal touch to every client. As we embark on our next half-century, we continue a solid tradition of family values, offering modes of transportation that serve the varying and ever-changing needs of people in Virginia and across the country.
In 1991 and 1993, Mark and David Pounders respectively joined the business and now guide the operation as COO and CFO of this multi-million dollar motorcoach operation.