Association Member News

KENSINGTON, MD — On Friday, October 24, 2003, the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association named John W. Sewell, a U.S. veteran with a 39-year history driving a taxicab for Taxi Service, Inc., Huntington, W.Va., as its 2003 Taxicab Driver of the Year. The award was presented to Mr. Sewell by TLPA President Gene Hauck and TLPA Vice President Brian McBride at the association's 85th Annual Convention & Trade Show, held in Reno, Nev.

Mr. Sewell was awarded with a plaque and a check for $300 by TLPA, who also paid for his airfare, hotel and convention registration. Taxi Service, Inc. also was presented with a plaque for the company's efforts in fostering a work environment that promotes excellent drivers.

Upon being told he had won TLPA's annual award Mr. Sewell said, "My reaction to being named the TLPA's Taxicab Driver of the Year is that it is one of the greatest highlights of my entire life. It only follows my marriage and the birth of my children. It's a great honor and privilege to win this award with all the prestige that goes with it, and it is a great way to complete a driving career."

John W. Sewell was born in Stone, Ky. on August 23, 1931. He spent three years in the United States Army, after which he worked as a sales representative for a securities firm and was employed as a clerk for the Chessie System Railroad. He says, "I started with Taxi Service, Inc. in June of 1964, hoping to fill the position until I got other work, but I'm still here. I found the company to provide good ownership, good management and a good living." In 39 years, he has driven over 200,000 miles without an accident.

"The qualities that make a good cab driver are safety, honesty and the people at the company that make a cab driver want to work there," John Sewell says. "Liking people and being courteous to them also are good qualities. Keeping a good, clean cab is a very important thing to the people who travel in them."

Among his many experiences driving a taxi, John once returned $563 cash that he found in the vehicle to the woman who was his last passenger. "I found it in a bankbook in the back seat of the cab, and since she was the last passenger I had, I knew it must be hers. I immediately took it back to the location I had delivered her to and gave it to her. She tried to give me a reward for returning the money, but I declined, accepting only one dollar and a quarter for a hot dog and a cup of coffee," he says.

"Another time I had a passenger in my cab who was very pregnant, picking her up from her home, and in the process of taking her to the hospital when she was already having contractions. Her water broke in the cab. We managed to make it safely, on time, and I was happy to turn her over to the emergency room staff. It might have been better reading if I had assisted in the delivery, but my real job was to get her and her baby safely to her destination."

In his letter nominating John, Bob Cook, general manager of Taxi Service, Inc. wrote, "John Sewell has had a lengthy and productive career as a taxicab driver. Always dependable and lauded by his passengers for his service, John received so many words of praise for his perpetually clean cab and friendly service that there was an article in our local newspaper honoring his efforts in serving the public.

"In the article, John is cited specifically for his honesty in returning a large sum of lost money to the rightful owner. This would seem to be the highlight of his career. It really isn't. The true highlight has been his entire career, which has consisted of many things that he has done to serve the people and his peers. In 39 years of driving a taxicab, John has more than 200,000 miles of safe driving."

John Sewell is married to the former Karen Clutter of Huntington, W.Va. They have five children and seven grandchildren. His hobbies are pitching horseshoes and "working in my little old garden." He also likes to relax in his spare time by listening to country music and rhythm and blues music. He likes to go dancing when he has the opportunity.

In honor of his many years of dedication to his profession and his community, the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association proudly recognizes Mr. John Sewell as the TLPA 2003 Taxicab Driver of the Year.