Army & Air Force Exchange Service Driver Honored for Humanitarian Efforts

Arlington, VA – The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) awarded James W. West, a driver with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service operating out of Waco, Texas, with its Humanitarian Award during the group’s Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition held April 17-19, 2011 in Cincinnati, OH.

The award recognizes individuals who share an extraordinary commitment to helping others. West, who turned 50 on the day he was presented the award, joined AAFES nine years ago and has driven for more than 31 years and 1,885,000 miles without a chargeable accident or a moving violation. Both on and off the job, he has demonstrated a continuing voluntary commitment to improving the human condition.

West was one of the first motor vehicle operators for AAFES to deploy to New Orleans in support of relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and to Galveston to help out after Hurricane Ike in 2008, even sharing his meals with those without food.

For the past 30 years, he has served as an active volunteer firefighter and Fire Chief for the Bruceville-Eddy Volunteer Fire Department and a volunteer firefighter and Assistant Fire Chief for the Moody VFD. He has also served as a mutual aid volunteer and emergency medical technician in the small communities surrounding his home.

His spirit of volunteerism never diminished even as he encountered personal hardships when illness confined both his parents to their beds shortly before they died and he took on the responsibility of caring for them as well as for the farm and livestock.

If that wasn’t enough, he has led toy drives for children and needy families over the Christmas holidays, dipping into his personal funds to support those efforts when fundraising efforts were not enough to support those in need. He has also been active in fundraising effort for Jerry’s Kids, May-Fest and efforts to support the volunteer fire departments.

About NPTC
Founded in 1939, the National Private Truck Council is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the private truck industry and corporate/business private truck fleet management. NPTC is the premier marketplace of information, networking and skill building for private fleet professionals as it leads in shaping the future of corporate transportation.

For more information about the Council’s activities and programs, visit our website at www.nptc.org.

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