GUNNISON, Colo. – A group of Mountaineer football student-athletes whose harrowing adventure is probably one of the most famous bus rides in Western State history will reunite this fall to commemorate the 60-year anniversary of the ride. The “Bus Riders” will return to campus during the Hall of Fame weekend of Oct. 8-9.
On Nov. 18, 1950, the football team was traveling to Canon City for a game against rival Adams State. When coming down on the east side of Monarch, the bus lost its brakes and the gear shift popped into neutral. Reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour, the team made it down with the driver giving instructions on when to shift their weight around corners.
The Mountaineers were undeterred after the ride. They defeated Adams State 35-14 in the final game of the regular season and improved to 4-0 all-time in the series.
The reunion will come at a special time as the group will award the first 1950 WSC Football Bus Riders Scholarship this fall. The fund came to reality in part by a life insurance policy that Bob Foster, a freshman that year who wasn’t on the bus, willed to Western State for the scholarship upon his death.
The 1950 student-athletes, including those who weren’t on the bus, will spend Friday and Saturday at a variety of events. A freshman during that season, Dick Bratton, who wasn’t on the bus, will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Hall of Fame Ceremony Friday night.
Members can register for the reunion by calling the Western State Alumni Office at (970) 943-2493, or online at
westernalulm.org. An RSVP is asked in advance by Sept. 29.