DALLAS — A South Texas company that operated the chartered bus that exploded near Dallas on Friday has a history of financial troubles and driver safety issues, records show.

The owners of Global Limo Inc. were forced to file for bankruptcy protection in February to block a takeover of the business for nonpayment of debt. And for five days in early May, federal authorities revoked the company's operating license, for the second time since 1993.

James H. "Butch'' Maples, 64, co-owner of Global Limo Inc., could not be reached for comment. A man at Global's office in Pharr, Texas, confirmed that Maples' company owned the bus filled with elderly evacuees that exploded on Interstate 45 near Wilmer.

The man would not give his name and declined to be interviewed. He said the company would issue a statement, but none had been released by late afternoon.

Global is described in federal court records as a tour company that operates nine buses. Maples, a one-time NFL player, and his 46-year-old wife, Kathleen, are listed as the owners.

In its most recent federal compliance review in February 2004, Global was rated "satisfactory.'' Its record during the past 2 ½ years reveals no major vehicle safety problems.

"That does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that there are no violations,'' said Jim Lewis, spokesman for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Even before Friday's crash, the agency had red-flagged Global for full inspections in the event a police officer stopped one of the buses.

Global has serious problems with its driver safety, according to federal regulators. The company's driver safety rating is 97, meaning it is worse than 97 percent of all companies.

In the past 2 ½ years, drivers for the company have been ordered to stop driving five times after traffic stops or other inspections discovered major violations.

All the inspections revealed that the drivers were not carrying logs documenting how long they had been driving at the time and how long they had driven during the past seven days, both federal requirements.

Maples has owned businesses ranging from photo developing to property sales to clothing sales to travel planning in Hidalgo County over the past three decades.

He and his wife incorporated Global in July 2002, but both owned bus leasing or touring companies under other names before then.

Maples has a long list of legal troubles. He has been sued several times over debts and tax liens and has closed several of his businesses, records show.

A phone call to Global Lines was answered by Mrs. Maples. She transferred the call to the man, who did not identify himself.State officials said Sunrise Senior Living Inc., the company that owned the nursing home whose patients were being transported from Houston to Dallas, was responsible for hiring Maples' company.

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