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Richmond – GRTC concluded our 50th anniversary Black History Month with a living legend, visiting with Gloria and Monica Lucas, the wife and daughter of Stanley Lucas, one of GRTC’s first five black drivers. The two met with GRTC CEO Sheryl Adams and Chief of Staff Adrienne Torres, as well as other GRTC staff members, to hear more about the prejudice experienced and overcome by Stanley and Gloria and the path they forged together during his career as an operator.

Stanley Lucas Jr. was a truck driver in the Navy before joining the Virginia Transit Company, GRTC’s precursor, as one of the first five black operators in the early 1960s. When he started, Gloria told GRTC staff, that he could drive the bus, but could not sit in the front as a passenger because of segregation.

Gloria recounted other stories of passengers refusing to touch Stanley’s hands to receive their change and, in some cases, refusing to board a bus that was driven by a black man.

“It was an absolute privilege to spend the afternoon learning from Mrs. Lucas,” said GRTC CEO Sheryl Adams “The bravery that she and Stanley showed in paving the road for equality at GRTC is inspirational, and her visit was a reminder of the work that is still being done in expanding equal and equitable access to transit across the Richmond region.”

Gloria was also presented with a Gold GRTC Pass in recognition of Stanley’s service and their collective efforts to advance the cause of justice.

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