To The Leader

TEXAS CITY, Texas – Del Papa Distributing recognized the significant achievement of 61 employees that were honored for a cumulative 850 years of service at their annual Business Meeting.  Recipients achieved tenure milestones in 2018 between 5 and 45 years of service in 5-year increments. The employees were honored on February 13, 2019, in a company-wide ceremony.

The following group of individuals achieved milestones of service in 2018. Recognized for 5 years were Nancy Borne, Alex Brockman, Preston Brown, Noel Byars, Danny Bynam, Nick Canton, Chris Christensen, Raymond Edwards, Andy Faulkner, Joseph Flores, Timothy Fuller, Manolito Garcia, Stephen Grahmann, Dallas Hicks, Ray Lee, John Morello, Susie O’Dell, John Pruitt, Adrian Rivera, Kevin Shulte, John Smith, Jessica Trevino, Marcus Triplett, Jerry Van Dyk, and Greg Vargas. Recognized for 10 years were Whitney Crawford, Mike Del Bosque, Adam Dickson, Rueben Flores, Kyle Garrett, Brian Martin, Lauren Nallie, David Rodriquez, Ish Sauceda, Sam Sauceda, Kendric Slaughter, and Ricky Spencer. Recognized for 15 years were Heath Freidrich, Adam Gradney, Sylvia Salinas, and Fred Semien. Recognized for 20 years were Mark Bordages, David Chapiewski, Tommy Choules, Stanley Delgado, Marty Garcia, Pat Manders, and Jesse Montelongo.

“In 2010, as a part of our 100-year anniversary celebration, we established the ‘Del Papa Quarter Century Club,’ representing those employees who had achieved at that time at least 25 years of service with the company,” explained Peter Williamson, Vice President of Corporate Relations and Communication at Del Papa Distributing. “We have continued to recognize and welcome our newest inductees every year since then who have obtained this high level of achievement. This year we inducted 6 new members into our Quarter Century Club. Those employees are: Robert Cunigan, Kim Gaspard, Gilbert Morales, Larry Morgan, Henry Nallie, and Luis Sanchez.”

Longtime tenure was celebrated as Mike Badon and Paul Salazar were recognized for 30 years of service; Keith Slaughter and Michael Thierry were recognized for 35 years of service; Don Clay and Tom Youngblood were recognized for 40 years of service and Larry Del Papa for 45 years of service with Del Papa Distributing.

Several employees received their Service Award alongside another family member. President and CEO, Larry Del Papa noted, “One of the greatest honors for me as a leader is that our company is one where our employees’ children want to work. It makes it a family business for all of us.”

Del Papa Distributing further recognized employees in the 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service categories by making a generous donation to a charity of their choosing. Charitable contributions were made to The Letterman’s Club of Woodville High School, Schroeder Volunteer Fire Department,  Ander-Weser Volunteer Fire Department, The Infant Jesus Catholic Church, Shriners Hospital for Children, Rosenberg Library, and the Galveston Island Animal Shelter.