ST. LOUIS, Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 33 elite drivers from Missouri 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.
Missouri boasts 218 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 6,324 years of accident-free driving. Donald Kopac of St. Louis is the state's senior safe driver, with 41 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 1,783 total UPS drivers in Missouri.
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 Kim Wyant, president, UPS Central Plains 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 Missouri drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
| Driver | Hometown | UPS Work Location |
| Boarman, Thomas | Barnhart | Crystal City |
| Brown Jr, Jerald | Bois D Arc | Springfield Ext |
| Brown, Thomas | Rolla | Rolla Center |
| Buersmeyer, Rodney | Jefferson City | Jefferson City |
| Burton, David | Kaiser | Camdenton |
| Clark, Paul | St Peters | Earth City |
| Covey, Timothy | Blue Springs | James St |
| Diederich III, Gregory | St. Joseph | St. Joseph |
| Evers, Steven | Fenton | Earth City |
| Faletti, Frank | Florissant | Earth City |
| Fish, Gary | Kansas City | Kansas City |
| Head, Randy | Houston | Willow Springs |
| Hicks, Ronald | Springfield | Springfield (Metro Bldg.) |
| Isenmann Jr, Thomas | Jasper | Joplin |
| Jost, Steven | St. Louis | Southeast |
| Kapp, Michael | Saint Louis | Earth City |
| Lee, Tammy | St Louis | St. Louis |
| Majors, Mark | Columbia | Columbia |
| Maples, John | Osage Beach | Camdenton |
| Marzett, Gilbert | Kansas City | Kansas City |
| Michaelis, Daniel | Holt | Lenexa |
| Randoll, Robert | Florissant | Earth City |
| Roberts, Guy | Fenton | Earth City |
| Rose, Stephen | Saint Louis | Jeff Ave |
| Seward, Marion | Florissant | Earth City |
| Shelton, William | St. Louis | Earth City |
| Sigears, John | Camden Point | Lenexa |
| Sparkman Jr, Jerry | Republic | Springfield (Metro Bldg.) |
| Tarkington, Keith | Saint Charles | Earth City |
| Verbanaz, Mark | Florissant | Earth City |
| Wallace, Charles | Lees Summitt | James St |
| York, David | O Fallon | Earth City |
| Zinser, Gregory | Saint Louis | Jeff Ave |