Why is he in the news?
Roger Gilliam was recently inducted into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.
Oklahoma has 64 active Circle of Honor drivers, including Gilliam and Michael Bivings of Ardmore. There are a total of 812 UPS drivers in the state.
“UPS puts a premium on safe-driving methods and training, and these drivers represent the best of the industry,” said Nancy Koeper, vice president and chief operating officer of UPS Red River District.
How did he become such a safe driver?
“Before I went to work for UPS, I had a defensive driving class while I was working in the oil field,” Gilliam said. “I brought that knowledge with me when I went to work for UPS.”
What is his background?
In May, the 52-year-old Springer resident will have worked for UPS for 26 years. He and his wife, Cindy, have two adult children, Clint and Levi.
What advice does he offer for other drivers?
“Keep your eyes moving, and expect the unexpected,” Gilliam said. “Distracted driving will get you in an accident for sure. There are all kinds of distractions — eating, drinking, texting and talking on a cell phone while you are driving — and some people are just not paying attention.
“Approach every intersection cautiously,” he said. “And once you clear an intersection, check your mirror to make sure no one is following you too closely or coming up behind you too fast.”
Facts about the Circle of Honor
* Gilliam and 10 other Oklahoma UPS drivers were among 928 newly inducted members of the Circle of Honor worldwide.
* The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year * Charles Sager of Owasso is Oklahoma’s senior safe driver with 36 years of accident-free driving under his belt.
* Globally, 4,793 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 136,091 years and more than 5 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.
* Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Kentucky District, with 48 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Michigan District is next in line with 47 years of safe driving. Fifteen others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
