CHICAGO, Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 86 elite drivers from Illinois 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.
Illinois boasts 385 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 10,972 years of accident-free driving. Ralph Lendi of Tinley Park is the state's senior safe driver, with 44 years each of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 5,165 total UPS drivers in Illinois.
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 Jerry Mattes, president, UPS West Region.
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 Illinois drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location |
| Ashley, Anthony | New Lenox | Joliet |
| Baxa II, Lee | Oak Lawn | Bedford Park |
| Beck, Ernest | Hanover Park | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Beitzel, Thomas | Oswego | Franklin Park |
| Blattner Jr, Raymond | Hickory Hills | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Branney, Timothy | Rockford | Rockford Air Hub |
| Buser, Thomas | Taylor Ridge | Rock Island |
| Butzen Jr, Kenneth | Glendale Hts | Addison A Building |
| Calandriello, Thomas | Orland Park | Jefferson Hub |
| Caragher, Patrick | Plainfield | Addison A Building |
| Chamales, Peter | Orland Park | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Ciolek, Dennis | Chicago | Jefferson Hub |
| Cordova, Raymund | Beachpark | Northbrook |
| Cunningham, Curtis | Galesburg | Galesburg |
| Daniels, David | Roscoe | Rockford Center |
| Day, Richard | New Berlin | Jacksonville |
| Depinto, Nicholas | Elmwood Park | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Divine, Randy | Collinsville | Alton |
| Downey, Robert | Mt Vernon | Indianapolis 81st |
| Dryer, William | Bloomington | Bloomington |
| Dulaney, Don | Zion | Northbrook |
| Durbin, Dennis | Decatur | Decatur Hub |
| Dybul, Christopher | Barrington | Franklin Park |
| Edwards, David | Virden | Decatur Hub |
| Eggert, Mark | Oak Forest | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Feiler, Edward | Willow Springs | Bedford Park |
| Fitzgerald, Michael | Tinley Park | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Fitzsimmons, Stephen | Eldorado | Marion |
| Fricano, Anthony | Palatine | Palatine |
| Garcia, Mario | Round Lake Beach | Northbrook |
| Gash, Larry | Warrensburg | Decatur Hub |
| Greenwood Jr, Isaac | Willow Springs | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Haycraft, David | Dalton City | Decatur Center |
| Heldman, Jeffrey | Cary | Palatine |
| Hennis, Gregg | Rockford | Rockford Center |
| Holubik, Ricky | Plainfield | Bedford Park |
| Hoskins, Bernard | Evergreen Park | Jefferson Hub |
| Irving, Mark | Frankfort | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Johnson, Rusty | Orion | Rock Island |
| Jones, Randel | Georgetown | Decatur Hub |
| Juodis, Ray | Plainfield | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Kalasmiki, James | Bartlett | Addison A Building |
| Key, Todd | La Grange | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Kielas, Mark | Spring Grove | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Kiska, Walter | Chicago | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Klode, Kenneth | Burbank | Jefferson Hub |
| Knudsen, David | St. Charles | Addison A Building |
| Kocanda, Robert | Burr Ridge | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Korpal, Karen | Chicago | Addison A Building |
| Lawrence, Richard | Troutvalley | Northbrook |
| Lemmer, Cnythia | Earlville | Dekalb |
| Marquardt, Walter | Alsip | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| McGaha, Keith | Dixmoor | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| McNerney, James | Carol Stream | Addison A Building |
| Mekoola, Brian | Channahon | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Michna, Dean | Chicago | Addison A Building |
| Mikan Jr, Edward | Romeoville | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Neenan, James | Chicago | Northbrook |
| Newman, Timothy | Orland Park | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Nikiel Jr., Edward | Downers Grove | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Pascoe, Sharon | Skokie | Franklin Park |
| Peters, James | Mapleton | Peoria |
| Pickens, Billy | Marion | Indianapolis 81st |
| Presslak, Robert | Elk Grove Village | Palatine |
| Psihogios,Thomas | Mt. Prospect | Palatine |
| Radcliff Jr, Charles | Matteson | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Rak, James | Chicago | Chicago Area Consolidated Hub |
| Recchia, Robert | Pingree Grove | Addison A Building |
| Rivers, Benjamin | Bolingbrook | Addison A Building |
| Roberson, Charley | Maywood | Jefferson Hub |
| Samborski, Bruce | Monee | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Sherry, Anita | Palos Hills | Northbrook |
| Shoman, Nasser | Mc Henry | Palatine |
| Spizzirri, Henry | Plainfield | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Staab, Karen | Westchester | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Stanke, Daniel | Glen Ellyn | Palatine |
| Starr, James | Woodridge | Chicago Area Consolidation Hub |
| Stewart, Robert | Elgin | Palatine |
| Stumpf, John | Loves Park | Rockford Center |
| Swanson, Ricky | Prophetstown | Rock Falls |
| Tisdale, David | Poplar Grove | Palatine |
| Toomey, Michael | Arlington Hts | Palatine |
| Towle, Danny | Carterville | Marion |
| Walton, Willie | Country Club Hills | Jefferson Hub |
| Washington, Gregory | Peoria | Peoria |
| Wysoglad Jr, Thomas | Plainfield | Addison A Building |