When President Jimmy Carter passed away, years of preparation and careful planning culminated for Clarence E. Cox III. Cox, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Coach Lines, worked closely with MARTA (Atlanta’s transit authority) and the Secret Service to coordinate motorcoach transportation for the visitation and memorial.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Cox shared. His partnerships with MARTA began years ago, and this year he also collaborated with the Carter Center, a nonprofit founded by the former president.
After the 39th president’s passing on December 30, 2024, at the age of 100, a public visitation took place at the Carter Center in Atlanta from January 4 to January 7. Thousands of individuals paid tribute during the 60-hour event. Following the visitation, a private funeral service was held in Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia.
Cox expressed his gratitude for Georgia Coach Lines’ role in the historic event.
“It was a historic moment, and we were proud to be part of it,” he said. “It’s events like these that demonstrate the importance of what we do.”
An Experienced Leader in the Spotlight
Clarence Cox brought with him decades of expertise. Beyond his role at Georgia Coach Lines, he is the Immediate Past President of the Georgia Motorcoach Operators Association (GMOA), Chairman of the African American Motorcoach Council for the American Bus Association, and a Board Member of the United Motorcoach Association (UMA).
Cox’s extensive background in law enforcement and security also played a key role in the event’s success. A retired law enforcement officer with experience in security planning, he had frequently collaborated with federal agencies like the Secret Service on high-profile events. His understanding of logistics and crowd management made him well-suited for overseeing Carter’s memorial transportation.
Orchestrating a Complex Plan
Planning transportation for Carter’s visitation required a massive logistical effort. Originally intended to begin 36 hours after Carter’s death, the timeline shifted due to New Year’s Day.
“Instead of starting visitation on Thursday, we began on Saturday, rolling non-stop for 60 hours until Tuesday morning,” explained Cox. “They even added an extra hour.”
The operation called for 22 motorcoaches running 12-hour shifts with two backup coaches on standby. A tow truck was also positioned at the Carter Center, ensuring any mechanical issues could be addressed immediately. By the end, the motorcoaches transported nearly 17,000 visitors, primarily senior citizens and families.
“We moved 16,807 people, to be exact,” said Cox. “It was a historic moment, and we were honored to be part of it. This was a great opportunity to showcase how efficient and professional motorcoaches are, especially when the world is watching.”
Collaboration with Industry Leaders
Cox handpicked six motorcoach companies to assist with the transportation. He exclusively worked with members of respected industry associations, including GMOA, UMA, ABA, and the National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO).
“For me, being part of an association reflects a commitment to industry standards and professionalism,” Cox noted. “This was a historic event, and I wanted to make sure we had the best of the best.”
Participating companies included Camelot Charters (Alabama), Horizon Motorcoach (Georgia), Kingsman Coach Lines (Georgia), R&W Motorcoach (Georgia), Friendship Tours (Georgia), Heritage Enterprise (Georgia), ELW Motorcoach (Georgia), and Georgia Coach Lines (Georgia).
Drivers adhered to a strict dress code, wearing white shirts and ties to match the event’s decorum. MARTA further enforced a no-distracted-driving policy, which banned all cell phones and radios from use during operation.
“The world was watching, and I told our team, ‘Make sure you send your best equipment and ensure it’s clean. Represent us well, because even the smallest incident could’ve been worldwide news,’” Cox emphasized.
Meticulous Preparation
Preparation began immediately after Carter’s passing. Before launch, Cox and his team conducted multiple route tests, starting with vans and later transitioning to full-size coaches.
“Our final dry run revealed adjustments we needed, such as avoiding tight turns or high-traffic areas,” explained Cox. “We also timed the routes to ensure we could stay on schedule.”
Each motorcoach was equipped with a vehicle locator for real-time tracking, ensuring coaches remained on route and could be located in an emergency. The motorcoaches staged strategically along Decatur and Hill Streets in Atlanta, occupying entire lanes of traffic for efficient boarding and drop-offs.
Drivers worked 12-hour shifts, with scheduled breaks, but were asked to bring their own food to avoid delays. “We wanted to ensure they could be called back from break at a moment’s notice to keep operations running smoothly,” said Cox.
Security measures were just as comprehensive. MARTA handled transportation for individuals with ADA needs, while the Secret Service enforced strict rules prohibiting bags, umbrellas, and purses. Cox ensured all passengers followed these guidelines, encountering only one minor incident.
“We only had one passenger use vulgar language,” Cox recalled. “He wasn’t violent, but he was removed and prohibited from riding the buses.”
Honoring the Moment
For Cox, coordinating this event carried deep personal significance. Though he didn’t know President Carter personally, he remembered meeting him as a Boy Scout visiting the Georgia Capitol.
“He was welcoming and took pictures with us,” Cox shared. “Over the years, I’ve seen him several times at events, the Carter Center, or Ebenezer Church.”
This operation also reminded Cox of a similar task for Congressman John Lewis’s memorial, where his coaches were prominently visible during the procession.
“We received phone calls from all over the world when people saw our coaches on the bridge during the Lewis procession,” Cox said. “It was a moment of pride for the industry, and this was even bigger.”
Advocating for the Motorcoach Industry
Beyond honoring Jimmy Carter, Cox viewed this operation as an opportunity to showcase the motorcoach industry’s importance.
“The world was watching,” he said. “This was a chance to show how essential and efficient we are, especially as we lobby Congress for more support.”
Collaboration with industry peers—strengthened during the pandemic—proved critical to the event’s success.
“COVID forced us to connect and share information, and those relationships carried forward,” Cox explained. “This event showed the strength of those connections and how we can come together for something truly historic.”
Source: Bus & Motorcoach News
Image: Bus & Motorcoach News
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