Ronald Lee Hughes in Postmaster’s Office –
Photo by Gina Boutain, Postmaster Coulee City

Ronald Lee Hughes is a contract route delivery driver for the Post Office in Coulee City, Washington. For most people, a delivery driver is likely seen as just a job. But for Hughes, it has meant 40 years serving the same route with pride, building strong community ties, and receiving a prestigious national safety award.

Hughes began working for the Coulee City Post Office as a substitute contract driver. “I was young and laid off at the mill and needed steady income and permanent hours.” At that time, his parents owned the delivery route. Eventually, he took over ownership of the route and has been taking care of his customers six days a week for the last four decades.

Nowadays, most people can’t fathom staying at the same job for four years let alone 40. But for Hughes, who says he enjoys the work, this job means something more. “I have built some very strong bonds with my people. I take pride and respect in my route, doing my job for as long as I have.”

In the course of his career Hughes has not just delivered mail, but he’s done it by logging more than one million miles without a single accident a distinction most people never approach in their lifetimes. This amazing accomplishment earned him the National Safety Council (NSC) Million Mile Award, It also puts him in a prestigious group of a little more than 30,000 other postal workers who have earned the same award. The Safe Driver Award is the trademark of the expert driver and is recognized as the nation’s highest award for professional safe driving

To put it in perspective, the moon is 238,900 miles from Earth. Driving one million miles is the equivalent of doing that journey more than four times.

Times They Are A Changing

Change is inevitable and a lot can happen in 40 years. But Hughes rolls with whatever comes his way with grace, a touch of humor and plenty of smiley emojis.

“It is definitely a lot more complicated with all the technology that has been put into our daily routines besides just delivering our mail. But look, I am living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks.”  

Hughes also has to deal with more than technology changes. Seasonal weather issues can present its own unique challenges. “There were a lot of very harsh winters and some very long detours, which, thank the good Lord, were completed safely.”

While he admits he is “a man of few words” he doesn’t hold back when talking about memories of working for the Coulee City Post Office. “There are just so many memories, mostly good, and I have to say this last group of folks I have had the pleasure of working with to the end of my career is probably my favorite crew yet.”

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