METRO Magazine recently chose T. Ralph Young, owner of Asheville, N.C.-based Young Transportation, to be its 2013 Motorcoach Operator of the Year to honor his outstanding achievements in the industry.

METRO Associate Publisher Mark Hollenbeck presented the award to Young at the UMA’s 2013 Motorcoach Expo in Orlando, Fla., in January.

Young took over his father’s bus business in 1960 with three vehicles, and grew it considerably after purchasing 40 new buses in 1982 to provide shuttle and charter services to the Knoxville, Tennessee World's Fair, a move that paid off significantly in name recognition for the company. He also acquired a destination management company, Accents on Asheville, which provides customized tours in North Carolina, to expand the business even further.

Additionally, Young has served as a United Motorcoach Association board member for 10 years; on the board of directors of the North Carolina Motorcoach Association — including several terms as president — since 1960; and in 2009, he was inducted into the North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame.

In case you missed it...

Read our 2012 Operator of the Year profile on Northfield Lines, here.