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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Rudy Tempesta is a veteran of the U.S. Postal Service.

The 83-year-old has been with the postal service since his 20s. But Tuesday, the USPS recognized Tempesta not for his long tenure, but for his 64 years of service without a single accident.

As the oldest letter carrier in the state, Tempesta's award is something unheard of at the postal service. But he said he has a simple technique for staying safe.

“Drive slowly and be careful and anticipate what you're going to do,” Tempesta said. “That's the way I do it.”

Family and friends from his route came to share in the celebration, including the girl he calls his angel. Julia Daugherty, who is now leaving for college, wrote Tempesta a letter when she was 6 years old. In the letter, she talked about the Sept. 11 attacks.

“I wrote him a letter and told him, ‘You know, everybody is worrying about people dying with 9/11, but who is worrying about the mailman with anthrax?’” Daugherty said. “And he thought that was so cute. He laminated it and gave it to me for my birthday this year.”

While the award means a lot, as a World War II veteran in the Air Force, there's another one Tempesta holds dear.

“This is the most prestigious award I got,” Tempesta said. “It's an air medal. You get one for every five missions.”

Tempesta said he'll consider retiring after another 60 years or so.

“I stay here because this is my second family," he said. "I've got wonderful people out in the street."

Robert Gann, 51, also received a reward for 30 years of safe driving.