HIGH POINT, N.C. (Nov. 30, 2005) - Thomas Built Buses has named Western Mountain Bus Sales of Nampa, Idaho, its 2005 national dealer of the year.

Thomas Built Buses president and CEO John O'Leary (left) presents the Dealer of the Year award to Brad Carpenter (right), owner of Western Mountain Bus Sales in Nampa, Idaho. Holding the trophy is his father Vern Carpenter, who founded the company and recently retired.

The dealer of the year awards, which include five regional winners and one overall winner, are presented each year to Thomas dealers who show outstanding performance in customer satisfaction, customer service and support, financial performance and overall relationship with Thomas Built Buses.

Thomas Built president and CEO John O'Leary presented the awards during the President's Club Banquet, which is part of the annual Thomas dealer meeting, in Greensboro, N.C. "Western Mountain Bus Sales combines product knowledge, sales expertise and a keen focus on customer service, which is a monumental task given the geographical challenges of its territory", said O'Leary. "The professionalism and dedication to excellence demonstrated by our top performing dealers reflects positively on the Thomas name and we're proud to be associated with them."

Brad Carpenter, owner of Western Mountain Bus Sales, said his company was especially pleased to receive the honor. " Idaho isn't the most populous territory so it's challenging to compete in terms of sales volume with some of the large markets in the East," said Carpenter. "We're very proud of our service and our longstanding relationships with our customers."

Carpenter accepted the award along with his father, former company owner Vern Carpenter.

Western Mountain Bus Sales was established in 1972 and has been a Thomas Built dealer for nearly 25 years. It maintains more than 50 percent of the market share of school buses sold in Idaho .

The 2005 national dealer of the year was chosen from the top-performing dealers from five regions. Regional dealers of the year were: