CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that 69 elite drivers from Illinois are among 1,436 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.
Illinois boasts 545 Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 15,842 years of accident-free driving. Ralph Lendi of Tinley Park is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 47 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 4,930 total full-time UPS drivers in Illinois.
“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Charlene Thomas, president, UPS West Region. “Their attention to detail has kept them safe and has helped improve public safety.”
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 56 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 50 years of safe driving. One hundred twenty six others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS’s 125,000 small package drivers worldwide are among the safest on the roads, logging close to 4 billion miles a year and delivering 5.2 billion packages annually.
Collectively, these drivers have achieved more than 298,957 years of safe driving throughout their careers. That’s enough time behind the wheel to drive non-stop from Miami to San Diego – 68 million times. And they’ve done it while helping to deliver 3 percent of the world’s GDP – 20 million packages a day.
Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established its safe driving honor program in 1928.
** NOTE: The following page lists local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you’re interested in interviewing a local driver, please contact UPS Public Relations at pr@ups.com. Visit pressroom.ups.com for multimedia assets.
Following is a list of Illinois drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location |
| Arvanitakis, James | Buffalo Grove | Palatine |
| Beehn, Mark | Hickory Hills | Bedford Park |
| Bellizzi, Charles | Streamwood | Palatine |
| Blair, Nathaniel | Lynwood | Jefferson |
| Brown, Mark | Woodstock | Palatine |
| Butler, Donald | Rockford | Rockford |
| Carter, Peter | Chicago | Jefferson |
| Chancellor, James | Tolono | Urbana |
| Chmelik, John | Algonquin | Palatine |
| Cook, Jimmy | Hillside | Palatine |
| Crawford, Donard | West Chicago | Addison |
| Delbarba, Lloyd | Orland Park | Hodgkins |
| Dobosz, Michael | Aurora | Addison |
| Dubovik, James | Lombard | Addison |
| Feigenbaum, Mitchell | Plainfield | Hodgkins |
| Flock, Randy | Roscoe | Rockford |
| Forgille, Albert | Batavia | Hodgkins |
| Frederick, Robert | Monee | Addison |
| Gonzalez, Jose | Willow Springs | Hodgkins |
| Grady, Harry | New Lenox | Joliet |
| Groller, Wayne | Alsip | Bedford Park |
| Hein, William | Frankfort | Bedford Park |
| Higdon, Richard | Bolingbrook | Franklin Park |
| Hilton, William | Wheaton | Addison |
| Hook, Donald | Zion | Northbrook |
| Johnson, David | Bellwood | Hodgkins |
| Johnson, Steven | Matteson | Hodgkins |
| Jones, Brian | Rockford | Rockford |
| Joyner, Jerome | Decatur | Decatur |
| King, Michael | Chicago | Northbrook |
| Klespitz, James | Aurora | Palatine |
| Kondelik, Frank | Barlett | Addison |
| Kramer, Richard | McHenry | Palatine |
| Lirely, Todd | Murphysboro | Marion |
| Lupo, John | Hampshire | Hodgkins |
| Malcolm, Keith | Marion | Marion |
| Malden, Thomas | Crestwood | Hodgkins |
| Marcelle, Thaddeus | Dolton | Hodgkins |
| Mccarthy Jr., Johnny | Joliet | Hodgkins |
| McCune, Kenneth | Chicago | Jefferson |
| McDermott, Charles | Lemont | Hodgkins |
| Messino, Chauncey | Geneva | Addison |
| Meyer, Joe | Roselle | Palatine |
| Michalak, Daniel | Leyden Township | Franklin Park |
| Muise, Ira | South Elgin | Addison |
| Obanner, Jerome | Hazel Crest | Hodgkins |
| Parli, Michael | Mokena | Hodgkins |
| Perez, Roy | DePue | Peru |
| Pokorski, Thomas | Homer Glen | Jefferson |
| Poruba, Michael | Oswego | Westmont |
| Sandoval, Todd | Silvis | Rockford |
| Scales, Kenneth | South Holland | Jefferson |
| Schnoor, Phillip | Crystal Lake | Palatine |
| Schopen, Charles | Cary | Palatine |
| Shields, Steven | North Riverside | Franklin Park |
| Smith, Peter | Marseilles | Joliet |
| Staley, Timothy | Algonquin | Palatine |
| Tadla, David | Orland Park | Hodgkins |
| Tankson, Reginald | McHenry | Palatine |
| Tartaglia, Daniel | River Grove | Hodgkins |
| Todd, Kenneth | Bolingbrook | Addison |
| Tripolitakis, Leo | Homer Glen | Hodgkins |
| Walsh Jr., Daniel | Wheaton | Addison |
| Warf, Anthony | Joliet | Addison |
| Wasilowski, David | Chicago | Hodgkins |
| Watson, Mark | Sugar Grove | Addison |
| White, Mildred | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Yack, Phillip | Carol Stream | Addison |
| Zych, John | Elk Grove Village | Westmont |
Contact:
UPS Public Relations
pr@ups.com