By Brayden Nuessen

Willis Franklin has a nickname, “Boomer”, that originated as boomerang from his mother-in-law until it was shortened when he was a truck driver.

Boomer has been driving QU shuttle buses for the last six years. He spent four decades driving trucks.

“I drove a truck for 42 years and drove a little over five in-a-half million miles,” Boomer said.

His nickname “Boomerang” was shortened to “Boomer” when he used it as his CB handle while driving trucks.

A Citizens Band (CB) handle was commonly used among truck drivers in the 70’s and 80’s while communicating to other drivers about upcoming traffic or weather.

Boomer was born and raised in San Antonio and moved to Palmyra, Missouri when he was 19 years old.

“My brother got married and I took a week long vacation to visit him and never returned home,” Boomer stated.

When he retired, a friend was able to help him get a job driving QU shuttle buses in 2010 and he is still currently driving students to and from North Campus and Main Campus.

“It is a different experience since you are not dealing with all the stress from driving trucks,” Boomer explained.

Many people still call him Boomer as it is the nickname that he prefers.