Class 2001
Peter C. Picknelly, Peter L. Picknelly
Peter Pan Bus Lines, the largest privately owned and operated motorcoach carrier in the United States, was founded in 1933 by Peter Carmine Picknelly. It grew from a four seven-passenger limousine service covering a 122-mile route connecting Northampton, Springfield, Worcester and Boston, into a company providing daily service to over 100 cities throughout the northeast corridor, consisting of 150 premium motorcoaches carrying over 3.5 million passengers annually. The company’s success is due to the hard work, inspiration, and drive of the three generations of Picknellys.
The Peter Pan Bus Lines story begins with Peter C. who was born in Italy in 1892 and immigrated to the United States when he was seven. As a young child, Peter learned about the importance of roads and their significance in the growth of motor vehicle use from his father who worked with the Department of Public Works in NJ. When Peter’s father died in 1907, Peter assumed responsibility for the family. He was energetic, engaging, and took his responsibilities very seriously. In 1919, Peter received a money gift from an employer that would change the course of his life. He used the money to purchase a jitney and operated a bus route between East Orange and Newark. In 1925, Peter and three others became partners in Interstate Busses Corp. based in Springfield. Early in the bus company’s history, Peter, as president, not only developed exceptional skill in planning and negotiating but he also gained valuable experience interacting with business, political, and civic leaders.
In 1933, Peter sold his portion of Interstate Busses Corp. and bought a limousine service which he renamed Peter Pan Bus Lines, after the hero in his children’s favorite bedtime book. Peter created an image of romance and excitement by using the name Peter Pan.
Under Peter’s leadership, imagination, energy, and a belief in his ability to succeed, the company grew significantly. When Peter died in 1964, his son, Peter Louis became company president at age 33. Peter L. had 14 years of solid experience working at the company before becoming president. He capitalized on the 1964-1965 World Fair, offering one-day trips to the Fair for 12 months during which the company introduced the latest comforts in motorcoach travel to more than 40,000 passengers. Peter also expanded Peter Pan World Travel to include charters and group tours. Over the years, the number of routes traveled, passengers carried, miles covered, and destinations increased substantially. During that expansion period, Peter diversified the business and his interests into real estate, most notably with the purchase of the Sheraton Springfield/Monarch Place complex in 1993. (In 1933, Peter Pan’s first bus terminal was located on the current site of the Sheraton Springfield Hotel.) After handing the reins of the business over to the third generation of Picknellys, Peter has focused his energy on the real estate portion of the business and his community work. He is actively involved in the rejuvenation of Springfield’s riverfront and the planned construction of a hotel complex at the Basketball Hall of Fame site. Some of Peter’s community involvement includes the Springfield Boys’ Club, the Boy Scouts, the Urban League, Bright Nights at Forest Park, and the Spirit of Springfield.
Peter C. and Peter L. Picknelly are entrepreneurial role models in the truest sense. Their vision will be carried on through future Picknelly generations. We are proud to induct Peter C. and Peter L. Picknelly into the Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.