“Red” Sanders was a pioneer school bus driver who built the body of his first school bus out of wood in the early 1930’s. Moreover, he was a community, county and state leader throughout his life.
Roy Mayes Sanders was born to John Monroe Sanders and Maggie Smith Sanders on June 15, 1907. He preferred to be addressed by his initials “R.M.” and was known by his family and friends as “Red” because of the color of his hair.
Red married Helen Brown in 1930. Helen was born to William H. Brown and Lydia I. Manning Brown on January 1, 1909. Red and Helen only had one child, a daughter, whom they named Barbara.
Red lived over 65 years of his life in Powder Springs, 38 of which were devoted to the county as a school bus driver and 50 years of efforts in the development and advances in the community. He was one of the first three bus drivers in the South Cobb area.
Red built his first school bus because the county did not have the funds available to purchase buses. Everyone painted their buses different colors, but he painted his “yellow”.
The “yellow” caught on sometime in the 1930’s and was later adopted as the official color of school buses for the State of Georgia. However, it was not until 1939 that Red was able to proudly purchase his own first steel manufactured bus.
He drove 3 generations of students to and from school in Mableton, Austell and Powder Springs as well as Clarkdale Thread Mill workers through World War II. His services as a bus driver transported many students to many school events, club outings and field trips. As President of the Georgia School Bus Drivers Association, Sanders worked “tirelessly” to get the school bus routes paved through out Cobb County for better and safer transportation. Many of us have fond memories of riding on his school bus and knowing Red otherwise.
He also played a significant role in bringing an increase in pay and benefits for bus drivers and other personnel.
Red’s dedication as a bus driver and his love for people carried over into his life at home as his daughter lovingly remembers him there as a good Father, who loved children, fishing and politics. Red was a farmer and self- made man who worked hard to ensure his security in that roll, as well.
As Director of Cobb County Farm Bureau, he was involved in writing legislation to increase the standards for public education and to provide additional state support.
In 1997, the county had grown and so did the children within our school system which caused a need for new schools. Once the new school location was determined and plans in the works, the one detail left was the exact name that the new building will bear.
One of the newest elementary schools in Cobb, located in Austell on Anderson Mill Road, did with its opening on September 2, bear the name of a man who many knew as “Red”. The new school would bear the name of Roy Mayes Sanders (Red) honoring the man and his dutiful and faithful service to Cobb County. Sanders Elementary School is the first school to bear the name of a school bus driver, one of such vital significance to the school system.
As a “pioneer” of his time, Red Sanders was instrumental in paving the way for safety and economic growth in this county. A man whose honesty and dedicated efforts are truly worthy of the distinction that comes with the naming a school within the county which he proudly served and lived.
As the new elementary school bears his name “Red” Sanders is again, rising as a pioneer of today, as the first bus driver in the County of Cobb to receive such an honor.
Most of the above information was taken from an article in the Marietta Daily Journal by Heather Arnold, dated October 1997 “Elementary School Named After Red Sanders”. Also, the invitation to the dedication ceremony on Sunday, April 26, 1998, at 3:00 pm. Both on file at the museum.