AUGUSTA, GA (April 28, 2009) – George Pennington, who has compiled an unblemished driving record over the course of 7 million miles and nearly half a century while delivering Club Car golf cars and utility vehicles, has been named Driver of the Year by Ryder System.
Pennington joined Club Car in 1965, not long after the company relocated from Texas to Augusta. Since getting behind the wheel of his first tractor-trailer, Pennington has logged more than 7 million collision- and violation-free miles, delivering vehicles to customers from one end of the nation to the other.
Pennington was one of three drivers presented Ryder’s prestigious national Driver of the Year award – which is based on safety performance, customer service and citizenship – at a ceremony Monday night in Miami. Pennington was recognized in Ryder’s Fleet Management Solutions business segment.
Robert Johnston, Club Car’s transportation manager, said, “George Pennington embodies the qualities of safety, customer service and dedication in everything he does. He enjoys what he does, and it shows in the way he treats his company and his customers as though they were his own family.”
Club Car’s longest-serving employee, Pennington is also a past inductee in the National Private Truck Council’s Driver Hall of Fame.
In addition to Pennington, Ryder’s 36th annual national Driver of the Year awards went to Oliver “Don” Thornton in Ryder’s Supply Chain Solutions business segment; and William Stickel in Ryder’s Dedicated Contract Carriage business segment. The three professionals have driven approximately 10 million preventable collision- and violation-free miles and have more than 100 years of professional driving experience. Recipients received a cruise to the Bahamas and Key West, and a cash award. They also will be inducted into the Ryder “Driver Hall of Fame.”
Club Car, a business of Ingersoll Rand Company Limited, a diversified industrial firm, Honors the Game in its service to customers and support of the golf industry. Club Car is the exclusive premier partner of the National Golf Course Owners Association in the U.S. and NGCOA Canada’s exclusive Golf Car Supplier and Platinum Partner. Club Car is also a sponsor of the European Golf Course Owners Association, a Silver Partner of the GCSAA and a Corporate Advantage Partner of the Club Managers Association of America. It is the Official Supplier of Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles to the 2010 Ryder Cup, the Official Golf Car and Golf Utility Vehicle and an Official Sponsor of the PGA European Tour, the official supplier of golf cars and utility vehicles to PGA Tournament Players Clubs, and leading sponsor of the PGA Professional National Championship, The First Tee and the Executive Women’s Golf Association.
About Club Car:
Club Car provides fleet, turf, hospitality and financing solutions for golf, agricultural, recreational and industrial markets. For more information on Club Car, go to www.clubcar.com. Based in Augusta, Ga., Club Car is part of the Industrial Technologies sector of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited. Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) is a global diversified firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable our customers to create progress and a positive impact in their world. For more information, go to www.ingersollrand.com.
About Ryder:
Ryder provides leading-edge transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions. Ryder’s stock (NYSE: R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Ryder ranks 371st on the FORTUNE 500® and 1,631st on the Forbes Global 2000. For more information on Ryder System, Inc., visit www.ryder.com.