On July 18, 2023 local resident, Stacy (Byrd) Strickland representing Salter Trailways was presented with the inuagural South Central Motorcoach Association’s “J.H. Byrd” Outstanding Service Award. The award is named in dedication to the memory of her father, who was a dedicated founding member of Louisiana’s motorcoach industry. 

J. H. Byrd, Jr. was born on 9/29/53 into a transportation family. His great-grandfather Robert Thomas Salter partnered and started Salters Bus Lines in the early 1900s. In June 1971, at the age of 18, he started his career alongside his mother Philodean Salter Byrd, eventually taking over ownership of the company.

Following in his family’s footsteps he continued a daily line run until its close in the 1990s. Charter For-Hire work is where he found his calling and held the oldest operating authority number in the state of Louisiana.

J. H. became a National Trailways Transportation System member in 2000 and was a proud founding member of the Louisiana Motorcoach Association beginning in January 2005. J.H. was instrumental in the addition of state members to the current South Central Motorcoach Association and was a long-standing member of the United Motorcoach Association. He also served on various boards throughout his extensive career.

The U. S. military has recognized him several times as an outstanding transportation company. Truly, J.H.’s dedicated his life for the service of transporting people no matter when or where they need go.

J. H. was a friend to everyone who crossed his path. He was full of knowledge of maintaining and operating a motorcoach. He worked hard on keeping the transit agencies from operating a private charter service. If you ever took the time to speak to him, you would leave knowing he was an advocate of the motorcoach industry.

Like father, like daughter!