Tiger Transit driver wins Focus on Safety award and $20,000 prize

Published: May 06, 2015

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Auburn Tiger Transit driver Willie Frank Smith was presented with First Transit's Focus on Safety award on Wednesday, May 6. The award came with a choice of a 2015 Ford Focus or $20,000 from First Transit, the Tiger Transit provider.

"I never had a thought that I would win this," Smith said. "It means a whole lot to me."

The corporation-wide safety campaign had more than 5,000 employees competing to win. Operators took surveys, online quizzes and attended safety meetings to earn keys. At the end of the competition, Smith was randomly selected as the winner from a stack of the keys.

"This is a great opportunity to award an employee for his outstanding safety practices," said Tim McCann, senior vice president of First Transit. "He displays a constant focus on safety."

Smith said he chose to receive the money, but was still shocked to be chosen as the winner. Rex Huffman, manager of Tiger Transit services, planned the announcement as a surprise for Smith.

"Wow. That's all I can say is, wow!" said Smith.

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