HOUSTON, Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 122 elite drivers from Texas are among 1,445 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.

Texas boasts 632 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 17,803 years of accident-free driving. Alfredo Luna of Pearland is the state's senior safe driver, with 42 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 7,384 UPS drivers in Texas.

Globally, 7,878 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they've racked up more than 221,000 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers. That's enough miles to travel to Mars and back 36 times.

"My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus, and for the countless lives they've saved," said Craig Wiltz, president, UPS Red River District.

Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 52 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 46 years of safe driving. Sixty-two 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 more than 4 billion packages safely.   

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 table lists local drivers by hometown and UPS center. If you're interested in interviewing a local driver, please contact Dan McMackin at dmcmackin@ups.com. Visit pressroom.ups.com for multimedia assets.

Following is a list of Texas drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.

Driver Hometown UPS Work Location
Aguilar, Robert San Benito Harlingen
Alloway, Daniel El Paso El Paso
Alvarez, Noe The Colony Dallas
Arthur, Michael Rowlett Mesquite
Bailleu, Jeffery Colleyville Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport
Baxley, Larry Como Sulphur Springs
Berryhill, Billy Colleyville Dallas
Bieler, Brad Forney Mesquite
Blevins, Mark Amarillo Amarillo
Bomar, Randy Wichita Falls Vernon
Brewer, Bill Denton Dallas
Brown, Jim The Colony Dallas
Buggs, Melinda Stafford Stafford
Carey, Rene Georgetown Austin
Carmon, Ronald Houston Sweetwater
Catsoris, Paul Austin Highland
Cearley, Winfred Fort Worth Fort Worth
Clark, Timothy Sanger Dallas
Cole, Dwayne Burnet Highland
Compton, Ralph Scurry Mesquite
Connor, Melvin Frisco Dallas
Couts, Charley Pampa Pampa
Davis, James Lufkin Lufkin
Delgadillo, Javier New Braunfels San Antonio 
Dimego, Michael Round Rock Austin
Doyle, Dolly The Colony Dallas
Dunham, Michael Deer Park Baytown Center
Dwyer, Dale Plainview Plainview Center
Dyer, Aubrey Gilmer Longview
Eastland, Christopher Spring Mykawa - Houston
Elsik, Randall Victoria Victoria
Faz, Antonio Kerrville Kerrville
Foster, Ronnie Forney Mesquite
Frye, Lonnie Canyon Amarillo
Gaitan II, Lucio Pharr Mc Allen
Ganschow, Jeffrey Ennis Dallas
Garcia, Gilbert Baytown Baytown Center
Garcia, Ram Edinburg San Antonio 
Garza, Raul Corpus Christi Corpus Christi
Giebel, Robert Spring Sweetwater
Gonzales Jr, Joe Richland Hills Fort Worth
Gonzales, David Victoria Victoria
Goodrum, Kelly Bushland Amarillo
Green, Terrance Rosharon Stafford
Guinn, Jerry Nevada Mesquite
Gwalla, Nkosinomusa Grand Prairie Fort Worth
Hamilton, Graylon Lubbock Lubbock Center
Hampson, Lee Austin Austin
Hernandez, Michael San Antonio San Antonio 
Holden,  James Lindale Tyler
Holleman, David College Station Bryan Center
Holloway, David Temple Austin
Hosch, Gary Belton Belton Center
Houston, Paul San Antonio San Antonio 
Hulsey, Stuart Mesquite Mesquite
Hutt, Daniel Rowlett Mesquite
Jackson, Robert Houston Sweetwater
Jackson, Steve Temple Belton Center
Jones, David Desoto Dallas
King, Kelvin Denton Dallas
Kyle, James North Richland Hills Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport
Langle, William Bastrop Highland
Lee, Kenneth Richmond Stafford
Lopez Jr, Guadalupe Irving Dallas
Lopez, Mario Fort Worth Fort Worth
Lucio, Tony Harlingen Brownsville Center
Lyon, Jimmy Wills Point Mesquite
Malavolta, Rocky Bulverde San Antonio 
Malone, Russell Amarillo Amarillo
Marron, Jorge San Antonio Leon Valley
Mata, Abel Irving Dallas
McClendon, John Fort Worth Arlington
McDaniel, Kenneth Euless Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport
Mendoza, Jose El Paso El Paso
Miles, Michael Pearland Stafford
Moore, Billy Temple Belton Center
Moore, Danny Sugarland Stafford
Moore, Mark Abilene Abilene
Moreno, Rodney Lubbock Lubbock Center
Newman, Billy Troy Belton Center
Novak, Timothy Victoria Victoria
Nucker, Lawanda Bryan Bryan Center
Penn, Richard Early Brownwood
Polster, Calvin Palestine Mesquite
Ramirez, Paul Fort Worth Fort Worth
Ramirez, Ray Floresville Kenedy Center
Redwine, Roderick Tyler Mesquite
Rendon, David Cleveland Sweetwater
Richey, Darren Port Neches Beaumont
Rivera, Fernie El Paso El Paso
Robinson Jr, Willie Houston Sweetwater
Rodriguez, Orlando Richmond Stafford
Rogers, Bobby Haltom City Fort Worth
Rogers, Jerry Wylie Dallas
Russell, Donald Bells Sherman
Salazar, Abel San Benito Harlingen
Samaniego, Armando El Paso El Paso
Sappington, Billy Beaumont Beaumont
Sautter, Mark Magnolia Sweetwater
Schorr, Tory Rockwall Dallas
Scott, Mack Dallas Dallas
Sessum, David Elkhart Palestine
Sharp, Randall Abilene Abilene
Smith Jr, Billy  Van Mesquite
Spitz, John Weatherford Fort Worth
Spraberry, Robert Austin Highland
Stevens, Randall Royse City Mesquite
Stewart, Billy Lufkin Sweetwater
Stryk, Jeffery Pearland Stafford
Stubbs, Janet Early Brownwood
Templet, Robbie Houston Sweetwater
Uriegas, Agustin Uvalde Uvalde
Valdez, Jose Canutillo El Paso
Wallace, Daryl Scott Royce City Mesquite
Ward, David Terrell Mesquite
Wasson, Marcus Brownwood Brownwood
Watkins, Johnny Fort Worth Fort Worth
Welch, Jesse Houston Sweetwater
Wheeler, John Pflugerville Austin
Whittemore, Glynn Houston Sweetwater
Yerkes, Michael Temple Belton Center
Zwezerijnen, Robert El Paso El Paso
CONTACT: Dan McMackin
         dmcmackin@ups.com

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