[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 48 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO RAY DRAKE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to thank Raymond ``Ray'' Drake for 
his extraordinary service to the United Parcel Service, UPS. Earlier 
this year, Ray announced that after 46 years at the UPS, including 11 
years as vice president of UPS State Public Affairs, he will be 
retiring this April.
  Ray has a profound record of service to UPS, rising through the ranks 
and serving with a deep sense of loyalty and respect. In 1976, Ray was 
first hired at UPS as a package handler while attending the College of 
New Jersey. While balancing his studies, Ray was promoted to part-time 
hub supervisor. Upon graduating with a degree in political science, he 
moved to the metro New York district to become a package car driver.
  Just 2 years after his graduation from college, Ray was promoted to a 
full-time management position, joining engineering and operations, 
where he spent 35 years of his career. Working in engineering and 
operations, Ray took on a number of assignments, holding positions in 
three UPS districts and numerous package and air divisions. In these 
roles, Ray utilized his strong leadership, technical, and analytical 
skills to develop and deploy operational practices throughout UPS. For 
the last 11 years, Ray brought his talents in leadership and advocacy 
to the UPS's State public affairs team, where he worked tirelessly with 
key policymakers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
  In Illinois, Ray has served far beyond his responsibilities with the 
UPS. Ray was deeply involved with the State chambers of commerce and is 
the former commerce chairman, the only UPS manager to chair a State 
chamber. Ray currently serves on several boards and committees, 
including the Illinois Chamber Foundation Board, the Chicagoland 
Chamber Board of Directors, the Chicagoland Chamber's Public Policy 
Committee, and the Board of Directors of Illinois' Civic Federation. In 
support of UPS's international initiatives, Ray serves on the Illinois 
advisory council for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and the 
advisory council for North Rhein Westphalia-Invest, and previously 
served as vice chairman of the Illinois International Business Council, 
an organization he helped found. In this role, Ray has used his decades 
of experience in transportation and operational leadership to educate 
and engage community leaders on investments in development and 
diplomacy and has used these relationships to help strengthen Illinois' 
economy.
  In the true spirit of his own legacy at UPS, Ray was a leader in 
developing the wildly successful Chicagoland Regional Education 
Programs, which has allowed thousands of young Illinois residents the 
opportunity to go to college while working at UPS.
  I want to close by congratulating Ray Drake on his distinguished 
career with the UPS and thank him for all he has done and all he will 
continue to do to serve communities in Illinois and across the world. 
Chicago is grateful for all of his service and sacrifice. Now, as he 
enters the next chapter in his life, I want to wish Ray and his family 
the very best in a long and happy retirement.

                          ____________________