Coachbult.com - Ward Body Works



Ward Body Works - Ward School Bus Mfg. - 1933-1980 - Conway, Arkansas - (plant in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania)

Ward/AmTran/International Buses

D. H. "Dave" Ward founded Ward in Conway, Arkansas in 1933 when he "lowered the roof of a wooden bus for Mr. Carl Brady of the Southside Schools". Southside Schools were located about 15 miles north of Conway. In the 1930s, Ward Body Works produced its first all-metal body bus. In the 1960s, Ward School Bus Manufacturing, Inc. was responsible for many notable innovations including use of computers in manufacturing (using IBM 360s), safety advances, and manufacturing process improvements. In the 1970s, Ward opened a manufacturing facility in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, but this plant was closed in 1975. In 1979, Ward Industries filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Arkansas Governor Clinton was instrumental in putting together a group that bought the assets of Ward Industries. In 1980, the American Transportation Corporation was formed. In 1981, American Transportation Corporation began doing business as AmTran Corporation.

In 1983, the Harmon brothers purchased controlling interest of AmTran. In 1991 Navistar purchased stock of American Transportation Corporation. The era of mergers and acquisitions among chassis and bus body manufacturers was thus begun. Navistar International purchased one-third interest in AmTran Corporation. The action was initiated by Jerry Williams, AmTran's CEO. Navistar also obtained an option to allow them to buy remaining two-thirds stock by April 1995. Navistar exercised the option on remaining American Transportation Corporation stock and completed the purchase in 1995.

In 1999, AmTran announced plans to build a new facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma that would employ 1200 people. The conventional (International IC) buses would be built at the new facility, but the Conway, Arkansas facility would continue to produce the rear-engine ("International RE") and front-engine ("International FE") school buses. In 2000 Navistar began using the "International" trade name for the company's products. In 2002 the company changed it's product marketing name to IC Corporation and opened a new Web site in August of 2002 ( http://www.ic-corp.com/).

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As it turned out, the blacksmith had to change with the times in order to remain a vital part of the economy. A good example of this is Dave H. Ward from Conway, Arkansas. In 1934, he began to make school bus bodies in his blacksmith shop on Harkrider Street. This business, known as Ward Body Works, prospered over the years, employing hundred of Faulkner County people. For a time, it was the largest builder of school buses west of the Mississippi, and the buses were sold all over the world. Today, it is known as Am Tran and is still one of the largest employers in the county.

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In 1934, Dave H. Ward began to make school bus bodies in Conway in his business known as Ward Body Works. This is still one of the largest industries in the county, but is now called AmTran.

1936 Ward body built by Dave H. Ward. He founded what is now called American Transportation Corporation. His son, Steve W. Ward, now president of Ward Transportation Service, Inc., carries on the tradition of supplying the best school bus produced to transport the nations most precious cargo.

For more information please read:

www.wardbuses.com

www.busexplorer.com

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