UPS United Parcel Service

UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that 19 elite drivers from Iowa are among 1,575 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.  

Iowa boasts 87 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 2,511 years of accident-free driving. Cleo Underwood of Des Moines is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 41 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 952 total full-time UPS drivers in Iowa. 

Globally, 9,349 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor.  Collectively they’ve racked up 266,554 years and nearly 14 billion safe miles during their careers. That’s enough miles to travel to the moon and back almost 29,000 times.

”My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said George Willis, 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 54 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 48 years of safe driving. Ninety-one others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and delivering nearly 5 billion packages annually. 

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 Iowa drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.

Driver	Hometown	UPS Work Location
Anderson,  Douglas	Buffalo	Davenport
Borich,  Tony	Altoona	Des Moines
Borton,  Richard	Nevada	Ames
Brown,  Victor	Johnston	Des Moines
Dagit,  Scott	Cedar Falls	Waterloo
Havnen,  James	Ankeny	Des Moines
Ingoldsby,  John	Glenwood	Omaha, NE
McDevitt,  David	Sioux City	Sioux City
Perdue,  Ronald	Redoak	Red Oak
Richardson,  Rickie	Carson	Omaha, NE
Rossiter,  Leo	Spencer	Spencer
Schopf,  Stephen	Bondurant	Des Moines
Smothers,  James	Cedar Rapids	Hiawatha
Spenner,  William	Sioux City	Sioux City
Stewart,  Scott	Oskaloosa	Oskaloosa
Thrasher,  Calvin	Ankeny	Des Moines
Tjaden,  Kent	Hudson	Waterloo
Williamson,  Dennis	Runnells	Des Moines
Yutesler,  Rick	Bettendorf	Davenport

Contact:       UPS Public Relations
                pr@ups.com