Houston, TX – On September 26, 2017, in a crowded ballroom surrounded by her colleagues and hundreds of delegates, Ramonia McCarty was named “2017 International Driver of the Year” at the 30th Annual Conference of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) held in Austin, Texas. This award is presented by government transportation professionals from around the globe to a driver who has provided excellent service to passengers and has likewise performed in an extraordinary manner that represents the highest level of the profession.

In addition to receiving the award from the IATR, McCarty was presented a special commendation by the Houston METRO board of directors recognizing McCarty’s dedication and service to her METROlift client during a very difficult ordeal.

“Hurricane Harvey made landfall over Texas, and over the next several days, dropped an unprecedented level of rain on Houston and the surrounding areas. We have never seen or experienced anything like we experienced during Hurricane Harvey. Our city was paralyzed, hundreds of thousands of residents were significantly impacted, and many are still recovering from the devastation of that storm. I’ve had an opportunity to be at this agency for 38 years, and I will tell you that I’ve never been more proud of the METRO staff, and I want to commend everyone for all their hard work over the past 30 days. They went above and beyond the call of duty during this storm. But today I want to recognize one of our colleagues,” METRO President and CEO Tom Lambert said. “That recognition is given to Ramonia McCarty at Yellow Cab who was driving a METROlift client during Hurricane Harvey. The International Association of Transportation Regulators awarded Ramonia McCarty with the 2017 Driver of the Year Award. Not only was Ramonia recognized for her professionalism and heroism for transporting a customer during Harvey, she demonstrated tremendous resolve as she and her customer were forced to sit out the storm inside of her vehicle for 18 hours to avoid rising flood waters. Ramonia, we really want to recognize you for your service, your commitment, and your professionalism.

METRO Board Chairperson Carrin Patman was equally proud, “My heart was just full as I observed at close range the efforts of our entire team during a time of tragedy in Houston. Let me just say, that I’m so proud of Ramonia and her actions. People across our services in so many ways really went above and beyond the call of duty to help citizens in need, in many cases with families at home dealing with flooding issues of their own. I have never been prouder and everyone went above the call of duty.”

As Hurricane Harvey released unprecedented levels of rainfall in Houston and the entire region, Ramonia McCarty found herself stranded with a METROlift paratransit client in her vehicle. She was able to maneuver her cab to higher ground, yet she and her passenger became increasingly surrounded by the rising flood waters. McCarty and her client were forced to stay inside the taxicab for the night and remained in contact with METRO to reassure them that they were still alright.

“I knew Ms. Helen and I were going to be alright during Harvey because we had each other and I was determined to get her home safely,” McCarty said. She can laugh about the whole experiencing now though, “But there was a time when I saw the waters rising and I wondered to myself, ‘are we going to have to swim for it, and exactly how are we going to do that?’”

After 18 hours together in taxicab #1655, a break in the downpour allowed McCarty to safely deliver her passenger home, taking care to avoid the still numerous streets in the Gulfton Area that were flooded.

“Ramonia’s act of bravery, coupled with her calm and caring nature, exemplifies the qualities and professionalism that IATR seeks to encourage in licensed drivers around the world,” said Matthew Daus, IATR president. “Ramonia said she wanted to care for her passenger, Ms. Helen, no differently than she would care for her own grandmother in such a frightening storm. And for Ms. Helen, Ramonia was a ray of hope, courage and kindness. It is for these acts, which are but one example from a career of outstanding service, that the IATR board of directors is proud to award Ramonia McCarty with the 2017 International Driver of the Year Award.”

Ramonia McCarty is one of nearly 2,000 independent-contractor drivers working with Yellow Cab Houston which is the longest-operating taxi company in the city of Houston. It also has one of the largest fleets of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV) in the country to serve those with limited mobility.

“Mother Nature sent Houston the biggest rainstorm on record, but thanks to heroes like Ramonia McCarty, Houston is stronger than ever,” said Tina Paez, Director of the City of Houston’s Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department. “Ramonia’s heroic efforts and Yellow Cab’s generous support at emergency shelters during Harvey show how dedicated Houston’s taxi industry is to the City of Houston and how hard they work to help our community.”

McCarty is the proud mother of twins Felix and Felice (age 21) and Raynell (age 17). She has always instilled in her children a great respect and admiration for fellow Houstonians, “This city is really a big family that pulls together in times of great need, and you never turn you back on that. You always take care of fellow Houstonians as you would your own family,” she said.

Yellow Cab Houston President Mike Spears expressed his pride in Ramonia and her much deserved award recognition, “It has been a month since Hurricane Harvey devastated so much of the Texas Gulf Coast, and we are just beginning what will be a long process of rebuilding. When we hear stories of the heroism and courage of everyday citizens like Ramonia, it only strengthens our collective resolve that we are – and will continue to be – Houston Strong.”