JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that 71 elite drivers from Florida 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.
Florida boasts 587 Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 16,982 years of accident-free driving. Harold Edgecomb of Alva is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 40 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 5,800 total full-time UPS drivers in Florida.
“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Kim Wyant, president, UPS Florida District. “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 Florida drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location |
| Ambrose, Bart | Sarasota | Indianapolis, IN |
| Arnold, Jeffrey | St Petersburg | Palm Harbor |
| Baldwin, Brett | Marco Island | Hialeah |
| Barrett, Dean | West Palm Beach | Riviera Beach |
| Benitez, Anthony | Trinity | Orlando |
| Bessette, Randall | Cape Coral | Hialeah |
| Bickel, James | Tampa | Tampa |
| Blackwell III, James | Tallahassee | Tallahassee |
| Bode, Michael | Hialeah | Hialeah |
| Brito, Alfredo | Miami | Doral |
| Butler, Eric | Miramar | Miami |
| Camejo, Jose | Miami | Hialeah |
| Carrier, Steven Lynn | Wilton Manors | Deerfield |
| Carter, James | Longwood | Longwood |
| Castro, Manuel | Homestead | Hialeah |
| Cook, Jeffrey | Tallahassee | Tallahassee |
| Corugedo, Darren | Miami | Miami |
| Cross, Barry | Callahan | Jacksonville |
| De Carufel, Jeff | Fort Myers | Fort Myers |
| Dexter, Jon | Deltona | Longwood |
| Dyess Jr., Charles | Fort Walton | Fort Walton |
| Emerson, Jeff | Leesburg | Leesburg |
| Ezzell, Dean | Panama City | Panama City |
| Fazekas, Randall | Pompano Beach | Deerfield |
| Finnie, Darron | Miami Gardens | Hialeah |
| Fountain, William | Orange Park | Jacksonville |
| Gaver Jr., Robert | Coral Springs | Deerfield |
| Gerrell, George | Crawfordville | Tallahassee |
| Gibbs, Thomas | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Gilpin, David | Chipley | Panama City |
| Greenstein, Michael | Pembrook Pines | Hialeah |
| Hancock, Gary | Bryceville | Jacksonville |
| Hawkins, Carl | Boca Raton | Deerfield |
| Hawkins, Michael | Fort Pierce | Fort Pierce |
| Heekin, Robert | Deerfield Beach | Fort Lauderdale |
| Herndon, Clifford | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Hilleshiem, Gary | Lakeland | Lakeland |
| Hillman, William | Boynton Beach | Hialeah |
| Hudgins, Roderick | Callaway | Panama City |
| Hudson, Charles | Sarasota | Sarasota |
| Johnson, Thomas Mark | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Kelly, Jeffery | Ocala | Jacksonville |
| Kulik, Michael | West Palm Beach | Riviera Beach |
| Labarge, Kathryn | Pensacola | Pensacola |
| Lamb, David | Oldsmar | Pinellas Park |
| Lather, Richard | Fort Myers | Hialeah |
| Lyons, Scott | Lake Mary | Longwood |
| Martin, Keith | Longwood | Longwood |
| McBride, William | Cooper City | Hollywood |
| McClain, John | Naples | Hialeah |
| Memmolo, Dante | Boynton Beach | Hialeah |
| Michetti, Ron | Altamonte Springs | Longwood |
| Munn, Frank | MacClenny | Jacksonville |
| Napolitano, Dennis | Miami | Miami |
| Nicol, Amanda | Arcadia | Port Charlotte |
| Olivera, Jose | Miami | Hialeah |
| Paulson, William | Plantation | Hialeah |
| Pierce, James | Okeechobee | Fort Pierce |
| Pigott, Cary | Bradenton | Bradenton |
| Pike, Randel | Ocala | Ocala Center |
| Pla, Manuel | Miami | Doral |
| Quinones, Jose | Saint Cloud | Orlando |
| Rivera, Alcides | Port Orange | Daytona |
| Romaguera, Alejandro | Pembroke Pines | Hialeah |
| Rutland, Jaime | Pompano Beach | Hialeah |
| Ryser, Karen | Myakka City | Sarasota |
| Schoenherr, Alex | Clearwater | Palm Harbor |
| Shaver, Richard | Clermont | Orlando |
| Spittler, Derek | Hobe Sound | Stuart |
| Tannenbaum, David | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Wagner, Ronald | Port St. Lucie | Riviera Beach |
Contact:
UPS Public Relations
pr@ups.com