Truck convoy honors West Chester driver

A procession of 39 trucks rolls down Highway 92 into West Chester, where participants blasted their horns in a tribute to Larry "Pokey" West, a recently deceased longtime driver from the community. (Photo by Rachel Fishback)

The long line of semis stretched into the distance as the group circled around the West Chester Heritage Building, where West went to high school. (Drone footage by Jacob Eichelburger)

Larry “Pokey” West died Dec. 28, 2022. (Photo submitted)

WEST CHESTER — A procession of 39 semi trucks drove from Washington to West Chester on New Year’s Day, laying on the horn as they passed the home of Larry “Pokey” West on Highway 92, a longtime truck and dirt track racecar driver who died in Washington Dec. 28 at the age of 81.

Family members said West was well-known as a self-employed driver, and a founding member of the West Trucking Company along with his brothers after graduating from West Chester High School in 1960. He’d also made countless connections as a dirt track racecar driver, inducted into local halls of fame in Oskaloosa and Hawkeye Downs.

“Pokey actually had been driving a truck pretty much all his life … it’s kind of like a family tradition,” said Jaimee Edwards, a niece of West. “Everyone thought it would be a great tribute for local semi drivers to do a convoy following the visitation.”

The event was coordinated by Seth and Steven Libe, who declined an interview. Edwards said the two found plenty of friends and fellow drivers eager to drive in West’s memory.

Residents of West Chester were ready to receive the group as well.

“The really great thing when we got into West Chester was, all of the townspeople knew that the trucks were coming, so they all lined up and took photos and waved like it was this huge parade,” Edwards said. “It was a pretty neat sight to see.”

For Edwards, the community’s tribute was moving.

“It was a moment of pride of how he lived his life, and pride for having known him,” she said. “He was very hardworking, a very nice, funny guy that people could count on to either make them laugh or just show up … he had a lot of good characteristics to look up to.”

Brett West, a nephew of the 81-year-old, drove one of the nearly 40 trucks. He said it was an honor to participate.

“It’s hard to explain, it’s something he would have wanted,” he said. “It’s in your blood, I guess, it’s kind of like a brotherhood in a way. And all the other guys that were in the convoy knew it was something that needed to be done … We were paving the way to heaven for him, I guess.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com