Name: Shawn Snow
Taxi company you work for: Oxford Taxi
Where are you from, and how long have you been in Oxford? I’m originally from Cadiz, Kentucky, but I’ve been in Oxford for 16 years now.
What brought you here? I came here in 1996 right after high school to attend Ole Miss.
How long have you been driving, and what made you start? I’ve only been driving for about three months. The owner offered me a job one day while he was driving me around. We had met previously when I was working for my company, Reserved Parking, a valet company that runs during football season at the Inn at Ole Miss.
What’s your favorite type of fare? I really like the mature crowd; the couples in their 30s to 50s that are out having a nice evening and just had a couple of glasses of wine. They’re usually sociable and you can have a good conversation during the trip.
Have you ever picked up a celebrity, or do you have a favorite customer? No celebrities yet, but I hear Joey Lauren Adams lives here and I’d love to meet her. One of my favorite actresses!
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened while you were on duty lately? I did have this one guy in my cab who was so inebriated that he kept trying to talk to a girl in the front seat who wasn’t there. I mean seriously, it was just the two of us in the cab!
What taxi law do you think Oxford should change? It’s not really a law, but I think Oxford should just have one or two companies operating. The way it is now the market is just flooded and it is not very profitable for everyone, especially during the summer and winter months when students are gone.
How do you spend your free time? Do you have any other jobs? Free time, what’s that? I work during the day at Office Depot, drive a taxi at night, plus I have managerial duties for the cab company that take up any free time I may have, but when I get a few hours here and there, I’ll see a movie or have a nice dinner out.
Whatcha been listening to lately? I have an extensive music collection, but right now I’m listening to The Counting Crows, Long December. In the cab I usually play 98.5 a classic rock station. It’s great and most clients seem to enjoy it.
Favorite movies: Kill Bill, Big Lebowski, love some Happy Madison production films and anything by Kevin Smith, or starring Will Ferrell.
Read any good books lately? I love Stephen King, right now I’m reading his new one from the Dark Tower Series, The Wind Through the Keyhole.
How do you feel about the Black Bear? All I can say is I’m not a fan.
What do you like best about living in Oxford? I really like the small town charm and all the amenities of a much larger city. It makes for a great mix.
This article was published in The Local Voice #157 (May 31-June 14, 2012)…Click here to download the PDF of issue #157.
