Mailman honored for safety record

In nearly half a century of delivering mail in the Northwest suburbs, Richard Ney has never caused even a minor traffic accident.

Finally, someone noticed.

The Itasca-based National Safety Council this week awarded the Roselle resident the rare and hard-won "2 Million Mile" Award for his decades of safety-mindedness while serving the public.

"It was a surprise, but they said it was in the works for six months," Ney laughs. "I said, 'When I see it, I'll believe it.' "

That day came Thursday when the Schaumburg-area mail carrier received his plaque from the council.

Although he's seen others win the award for 1 million miles, he's never known anyone else who's doubled it.

Last year, the safety council inducted 107 postal workers nationwide into the "2 Million Mile" club. The council also honors other professional drivers, such as bus and truck drivers.

In October, for example, Robert Linebaugh, who works for Sears Holding Corp. in Hoffman Estates, won the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award for Illinois in the non-postal division after 52 years on the job without an avoidable accident, according to the National Safety Council.

Robert Burghardt, a mail carrier in Aurora, won the same award in the postal worker division.

Ney has also been a volunteer firefighter in Roselle, where he drove the truck for the department.

He also trained other drivers for the postal service.

"I have four children and I taught them all to drive, so I passed that," he joked.

One of his key precautions that possibly distinguishes him from most drivers is that he checks both directions twice before proceeding through a stop sign.

"It's being extra cautious, but it's worked all right for me," he said.

Though 64, Ney is in good health and hopes to work at least two more years to reach his 50th anniversary with the post office.

"I love the people here," Ney said. "The name of the game is good service. I enjoy this job. I say, 'Thank God, God made me a mailman.' "

His route includes 105 homes near Conant High School and a corporate building near Woodfield Shopping Center.

Though no fault of his own, and while off-duty 29 years ago, Ney's vehicle was struck head-on by an elderly driver who'd crossed over the median. His wife beside him was pregnant with their youngest child.

While the other driver unfortunately died, Ney's own family -- including the baby -- were all fine.