20-05-2025
Retired veteran, retired truck driver and current bus driver for Pattonville School District receives $500 for years of service
ST. LOUIS – Each month on FOX 2, we salute local first responders, military, or veterans with our Proud to Serve award. This month, we shine the spotlight on Mark Johnston who now serves his community of St. Charles, MO as a bus driver bringing joy to all the kids on his route in the Pattonville School District. Mark is an honorably discharged veteran who loves to bring joy and laughter to the kids on his bus route everyday.
Mark was nominated by his daughter who tells us
Mark is not only a veteran, he's my dad. When he was in the military as a radar operator and truck driver – every one of his soldiers were as much a part of our family as my brother, mom, and myself. Dad did everything he could to make sure his soldiers knew he was more than their Platoon Sgt. and they weren't all alone in a strange state/city or country (Germany) for holidays, televised sporting events, or even just weekend cookouts. When we came back to the states and dad was honorably discharged, he worked two or three jobs at times, barely getting any sleep, and doing whatever it took to make sure his family had a permanent home and food on the table. My dad continued working long strenuous hours every week with a couple different trucking companies and even owning his own truck. He finally ended up at a place he KNEW he could retire from while providing for his family. He worked 60+ hours every week – all the way up until USF Holland shut its doors on all their employees last summer. In 18 years he only ever used his PTO for sickness or health emergencies with maybe a handful of days used to just rest or go to a family reunion with us out of state. When Holland closed, my dads world was flipped upside down, and his final two year plan to retirement was thrown out the window. Though stressful, it's also been a blessing to spend more time with his these last 8 months and have my daughter become much closer to him (even if they pick on one another and she denies that he's one of her besties through a smirk). Now, after trying to spend time relaxing, getting some health issues resolved, a pacemaker put in, and a few days/nights spent driving a snow plow – dad is about to start working as a bus driver in Kirkwood and those kids truly have no idea what a blessing it will be – and I'm sure a riot for kids and parents because Baw Baw Mark is hilarious.I think my dad deserves this award because he truly has ALWAYS put his family and everyone else above his own needs and sometimes his own health. As much as I know an extra $500 will bless him – he will probably find a way to spend it on his grandkids and rest of the family.
Mark Johnston receives $500 from Brown & Brown Law Firm and FOX 2's Proud to Serve Award. If you would like to nominate a 1st responder, military or veteran, click here.
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