Gene England, C.R. England President Emeritus; Dan England, C.R. England Chairman; and drivers and employees recognized at last week’s ceremony, Garth Patterson, John Crabtree, Richard McDonald and Steve Atkins.C.R. England (No. 22 on the CCJ Top 250) last week added three new military veteran drivers to the fleet’s Honored Veterans Fleet, while also recognizing a non-driving employee and the service of a veteran who served in World War II.
C.R. England has been recognizing drivers with military service backgrounds and good trucking safety records and adding them to the Honored Veterans Fleet since 2014. The newest members of the fleet include:
- Garth Patterson, U.S. Army – Patterson served in the Army from 1972 to 2004 as part of the U.S. Special Forces and a CID and CIA agent. He is originally from Altoona, Pennsylvania, and has been with C.R. England for 13 years and is a One Million Mile Safe Driver with the company.
- John Crabtree, U.S. Army – Crabtree served in the Army from 1993 to 1996 as an MP stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Based in West Haven, Utah, he began driving for CRE 13 years ago and is a Two Million Mile Safe Driver.
- Richard McDonald, Army National Guard – McDonald served in the Army National Guard from 1963 to 1972 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tacoma, Washington. He’s been with CRE for 35 years and has achieved three million miles without an incident.
C.R. England also recognized World War II veteran Don Pullan,The recognition took place Friday, June 7, during the company’s sixth annual Veterans Rally. With the addition of the three new drivers, there are now 42 drivers in C.R. England’s Honored Veterans Fleet.
The company also recognized Steve Atkins, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1988 to 1992. Atkins has been with C.R. England for 26 years and is the director of maintenance for CRE’s dedicated fleets. He lives in Red Bay, Alabama.
Finally, World War II Army veteran Don Pullan received the C.R. England Honored Veteran Award. He joined the army at 18 and served in the European Theater. Pullan served until he was injured by a land mine explosion just before the end of the war. He was in the hospital for two months and returned home on his birthday on Oct. 3, 1945.
