Click photo to enlarge

Ernest B. Woodruff, III being inducted into the National Private Truck Council’s Bridgestone/Firestone National Driver Hall of Fame on April 30 in Indianapolis, IN.

Smithfield Transportation professional driver Ernest B. Woodruff III was inducted into the National Private Truck Council’s Bridgestone/Firestone National Driver Hall of Fame on April 30 at a ceremony in Indianapolis, IN.

The Hall of Fame designation is awarded to only 4 drivers nationwide each year. To become eligible for the award, professional drivers must have driven at least 20 years, logged 2 million miles, or worked a minimum of 50,000 hours as a driver.

Ernest is the 80th such driver in the country to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since this recognition program was founded, and the second Smithfield driver to be inducted. Gwaltney driver Robert Wrenn was inducted last year (link to story – Summer 2006).

As a Hall of Fame inductee, Ernest and his wife Edna received an all expense paid trip to Indianapolis and attended several pre-award receptions and events. During the ceremony, Ernest’s career was chronicled in a video presentation, which was followed by the presentation of the Hall of Fame Award and other complimentary gifts.

Ernest has been an over-the road driver for Smithfield since 1971 and has never worked for another company. He received on the job training from his father and uncle, who also worked for the company. Over the years, Ernest has driven every state east of the Mississippi averaging over 100,000 miles per year while maintaining a perfect driving record with zero preventable accidents.

In 2003, Ernest received Honorable Mention from the National Private Truck Council Hall of Fame Committee. In 2004, Ernest was awarded Driver of the Year for the state of North Carolina and in 2005 received Honorable Mention as a runner-up for North Carolina Trucking Association’s Road Safety Team. In 2006, the North Carolina Trucking Association presented him the Governor’s Award for Driver of the year.

Smithfield Foods announced in May that it had completed its acquisition of Premium Standard Farms.

PSF is one of the largest vertically integrated providers of pork products in the United States, producing consistent, high quality pork products for the retail, wholesale, foodservice, export, and further processor markets. Prior to the merger, PSF was the nation's second largest pork producer and sixth largest pork processor, with approximately 4,300 employees working at farms and processing facilities in Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas.

“This combination is a great strategic fit for Smithfield,” said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer. “The acquisition of PSF fits well with our strong expertise in hog production and pork processing.”

Paul J. Fribourg, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ContiGroup Companies, Inc., a PSF shareholder, has been elected a member of Smithfield’s board of directors. In addition, Michael J. Zimmerman, executive vice president, investments and strategy and chief financial officer of ContiGroup, has been appointed an advisory director. Prior to completion of the acquisition, ContiGroup owned 38.8 percent of PSF’s common stock.

Please welcome all 4,300 PSF employees to the Smithfield Foods family.