Milpitas Letter Carrier Receives Award

Robert Gibson drives about 30 miles a day, five days a week, to deliver the mail on his route in Milpitas–Kennedy Drive, Piedmont, Calaveras and Felter roads.

Since he started working at the Milpitas branch of the post office 33 years ago, he's been given an honor–a lifetime membership to the National Safety Council's Million Mile Club.

This year, Gibson is one of 22 drivers who work for the U.S. Postal Service in the Bay Area who have not had a single preventable accident in over three decades of driving.

But this letter carrier doesn't need accolades. He won't be taking a half-day off on Friday to attend an awards ceremony in Oakland.

"I have to work," said Gibson, 59. He could have retired three years ago, but stayed on because "it gives me something to do."

Gibson is not an area winner; nationally, this year's winners were divided into seven geographic areas. One best winner was selected for each area. Among the seven finalists, one will be selected for the 2011 USPS Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Award, announced at the National Awards Celebration to be held on November 1 in Philadelphia.