Community Supports UPS Driver Garitt Cox in Board Presentation

DOWNIEVILLE — On Tuesday, retired United Parcel Service (UPS) driver Garitt Cox was awarded a resolution of appreciation by the Sierra County Board of Supervisors. The resolution commends Garitt for his years of dedicated service to the community and for going above and beyond his delivery duties. During the presentation, the usually sparsely populated board chambers were packed with Western Sierra County community members.

“This whole community just shows love, and it’s a family up here, and you don’t see that in too many other places anymore,” explained Garitt, after Supervisor Lila Heuer presented the resolution. He expressed his gratitude to the community for their help, describing how, when he didn’t know where to deliver a package, community members would usually know where to guide him. Garitt felt blessed to have made the route his final home before retiring.

Western Sierra County has been a coveted route for UPS drivers, including Al McConnell, for whom Garitt began serving as a relief driver in 1997, and Kevin Miller, whom Garitt succeeded in 2020. Each driver has become a part of the community, remembered by the customers they served. Garitt says he, Al, and Kevin recently had lunch in Downieville, where the stories they shared focused not on the many difficulties of rural deliveries in harsh climates, but on the people with whom they had bonded in the area. On the sense of community, Garitt concluded, “Don’t ever lose that. It’s very special what you guys have.”

Community members present expressed abundant thanks for Garitt’s service and commitment. Downieville Elementary School students prepared colored cards saying “We Love Garitt,” which they presented to him in the chambers. Many others present shared stories of times Garitt had been exceptionally helpful to them. One community member voiced concern that his dog would now be depressed without Garitt there to offer a treat when the UPS truck arrives.