Columbia-based OATS, Inc., a leading Missouri transportation provider, is celebrating its 45th anniversary of operations this month. The company also operates in Warren County.More than four decades of experience has transformed OATS into a successful company that thousands of Missourians call their lifeline.It all began in 1970, when a small group of Missourians gathered together to transform a dream of rural public transportation into reality.The secret to their success was having a vision, setting their intentions, and having the commitment and persistence to keep moving forward.With $30,000 and a relentless group of volunteers, they laid the groundwork for what has become a multi-million dollar company.“We at OATS are thankful to our many riders, volunteers, board members, staff and funders for making this anniversary possible,” said Executive Director Dorothy Yeager. “The work of our early volunteers helped shape our company through the years, and their faith in our ability to serve Missourians, had lead to our success 45 years later.”OATS transportation ranges from taking toddlers to preschool, getting people to work each day, taking patients to life-saving medical appointments and dialysis treatments, taking seniors shopping so they can continue living independently and even delivering meals to homebound seniors in some communities.To add to the company’s list of achievements, it also was named the national Rural Service Provider of the Year in 2016 by the Community Transportation Association of America.The company will celebrate its anniversary at an event to be held later this month where they will recognize hundreds of people who have contributed to the company’s success.Find out more about OATS online, at www.oatstransit.org, or Facebook.com/oatstransit.OATS