JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 85 elite drivers from Florida 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.
Florida boasts 449 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 12,594 years of accident-free driving. Ginny Odom of Orlando is the state's senior safe driver, with 40 years of accident-free driving under her belt. There are 5,120 total UPS drivers in Florida.
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 David Ruiz, president, UPS Florida 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 Florida drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location |
| Alvarez, Richard | Orlando | Orlando Hub |
| Aubin, Matthew | Oviedo | Longwood Center |
| Barnes, Kenneth | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Beach, Raymond | Key Largo | Hialeah |
| Betancourt, Carlos | Tampa | Bayside Center |
| Blumenkranz, William | Surfside | Miami |
| Brock, Rubin | Palm Bay | Melbourne |
| Bronkie, Donald | Melbourne | Cocoa Center |
| Brunton, Michael | Pinellas Park | Orlando Hub |
| Byrd, George | Crawfordville | Jacksonville |
| Calderon Jr, Gustavo | Naples | Naples |
| Carlson, David | Orlando | Orlando Hub |
| Carmosino, Arthur | Boca Raton | Hialeah |
| Carver, Felton | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Chelton, John | Orange Park | Jacksonville |
| Creamer Jr, Harry | Brandon | Tampa |
| Crosby, Douglas | Orlando | Orlando Hub |
| Curole, James | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Derocher, Barry | Pembroke Pines | Hialeah |
| Doherty, Charles | Spring Hill | Brooksville |
| Edwards, Kent | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Edwards, Mark | Fort Walton Beach | Ft. Walton |
| Engel, Eduard | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Eubank, Christoper | Lynnhaven | Panama City |
| Fales, Brian | West Palm Beach | Riviera Beach |
| Francis, Brian | Boca Raton | Deerfield |
| Franklin, Calvin | Tampa | Tampa |
| Frey, Mark | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Garceau, Gregory | Royal Palm Beach | Riviera Beach |
| Garcia, Antonio | Miami | Miami |
| Garrett, Brad | St. Petersburg | Pinellas Park |
| Gary, Horace | Largo | Pinellas Park |
| Gotcher, Brian | West Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Grell, Bryan | Middleburg | Jacksonville |
| Gutierrez, Jose | Tampa | Tampa |
| Hamilton Jr, Richard | Naples | Hialeah |
| Hammons, John | Kissimmee | Orlando Hub |
| Hansen, Lothar | Port Orange | Daytona Center |
| Hastry, Terrence | Lake City | Lake City |
| Haynes, Willie | Tallahassee | Tallahassee Center |
| Hernandez, Larry | Casselberry | Longwood Center |
| Higginbotham, Darwin | Callahan | Jacksonville |
| Hill, Steven | Palm City | Stuart |
| Holmes, Jeffrey | Fort Walton Beach | Ft. Walton |
| Hughes, James | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| Jackson, Ricky | Plantation | Ft. Lauderdale |
| Johnson, James | Live Oak | Lake City |
| Kadlec, Timothy | Pembrooke Pines | Hialeah |
| Kneffler, Jeff | Crystal Beach | Orlando Hub |
| Kroeplin, Ricky | Deltona | Longwood Center |
| Lay, Robert | Havana | Tallahassee Center |
| Lindsey, Reginald | Bradenton | Sarasota Center |
| Lott, Paul | Maitland | Orlando Hub |
| Martin, Britton | Vero Beach | Vero Beach |
| Mccraw, Jack | Pace | Pensacola Center |
| Mccullough, Robert | Ocala | Ocala Center |
| Mckernan, Thomas | Royal Palm Bch | Hialeah |
| Miller Jr, John | Orange Park | Jacksonville |
| Miller, Robert | Davie | Ft. Lauderdale |
| Mims, Terry | Daytona Beach | Daytona Center |
| Myers, Gregory | Hallandale | Hollywood |
| Nelson, Bruce | Winter Haven | Lake Wales Center |
| Nelson, Peter | Big Pine Key | Key West |
| Nickerson, John | Orlando | Orlando Hub |
| Otero, David | Lecanto | Brooksville |
| Palenik, Robert | Port Charlotte | Port Charlotte |
| Peterson Iv, Ferney | Orange Park | Jacksonville |
| Piastuch, James | Orlando | Longwood Center |
| Podulka, Philip | Palm Beach Gardens | Riviera Beach |
| Ramirez, Marcos | Dania | Hollywood |
| Rhoden, Schiley | Naples | Naples |
| Robbins, Jacob | Lithia | Tampa |
| Salas, Alfredo | Miami | Hialeah |
| Scott, Mark | Port Orange | Daytona Center |
| Scott, Stanley | Pembroke Pines | Hialeah |
| Shultz, Richard | Cape Coral | Ft Myers |
| Stack, Gerald | Lithia | Tampa |
| Stockelman, John | Pembroke Pines | Hollywood |
| Tielves, Samuel | Hialeah | Hialeah |
| Troutman, John | Ft Walton Bch | Ft. Walton |
| Vance, John | Land O Lake | Bayside Center |
| Vollmar, Alexander | Lake Suzy | Hialeah |
| Warner, Malcolm | Orange Park | Jacksonville |
| Whatley, Alan | Winter Haven | Lake Wales Center |
| Wilson, Eric | Jupiter | Riviera Beach |