BY GUS MORGAN

If Devron Thornton is at the wheel, you’re in good hands.

Devron, a Transportation & Safety Associate based at ConocoPhillips’ Washington, D.C. office, has an important remit: safely transporting ConocoPhillips executives and Government Affairs employees to places such as Capitol Hill, The White House or the American Petroleum Institute.

Known for his driving safety, Devron has gone 20 years without an incident.

Such a safety feat, especially in traffic-congested D.C., would not be possible without one thing: focus.

“That's what 100% focus can do for you. You can't do that for 20 years without focus. Safety is my ultimate goal. While driving, you have to pay attention. That’s the bottom line. It's the only thing you should be doing. I have people’s lives in my hands.”

Devron’s positive mindset serves as his daily armor, sometimes necessary dealing with the frustrations of other drivers in D.C.'s congested traffic.

“When I leave my house every morning, I'm ready for whatever I may encounter because of my positive outlook. I'm going to stay positive all day, no matter what. That's part of my success as a driver.”

The second-generation D.C. native sees each day as a gift to be cherished. He’s been working for ConocoPhillips for 23 years. In addition to his driving duties, Devron is the D.C. office’s safety warden. He’s the first one to arrive each morning and open up the office.

“Every day, I wake up knowing that it's a blessed day, knowing that I have another opportunity to maybe help someone or provide a service, such as I do here.”

As a driver, Devron always waits for the passenger to engage with him.

“A lot of them have been flying and traveling, so they might be tired. The last thing they want to hear is me talking about something off the wall.”

When Devron has a passenger, the conversations often involve family, classic cars, fishing or Devron’s beloved Washington Commanders.

“But I don't let that go too far because now you’re interfering with my focus, and I may have to cut you short. I may be coming up on a situation that requires 100% attention, say a particular area with bad drivers or a bad intersection. I know the city and how folks drive here, so I’ve got to maintain my focus.”

Devron’s easy-going personality makes him a favorite among colleagues and clients.

“Devron is salt of the earth. He’s personable, laid back and a great conversationalist,” said his supervisor, Rosal Cauthen, who manages the company’s D.C. office and has worked with him for 23 years. “He’s a genuinely nice guy who goes out of his way to be helpful. Even if he’s asked to do something outside of his wheelhouse, he says, ‘No problem, I can do that.’ He is one of the people you can count on.”

Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Andrew Lundquist loves conversing with Devron, having known him for more than 10 years. The two eat breakfast together on a regular basis, their chats revolving around fishing, classic cars, food and people.

“He’s just such a gentleman,” Lundquist said. “He knows what he's doing, and he’s safe about it. People know him and trust him. He's driven in town here for 20 years without one accident, which is remarkable if you ever drive in this town.”

A fan of fashion, Devron dresses to impress, favoring a clean, conservative look.

A suit and tie serve as his uniform, delivering GQ vibes.

“I'm one of the best dressers in D.C. I love nice clothes and nice cars.”

Since 1990, Devron has been a member of Old Cars Unlimited, the first African American classic car club in the Washington, D.C. area. Its members are devoted to giving back to the community and the preservation of antique and classic cars.

Over the years, Devron’s owned numerous classic cars, including a 1949 Studebaker, a 1953 DeSoto, a 1969 Pontiac Firebird, a 1960 Ford Thunderbird, a 1963 Plymouth Belvedere and a 1962 Chevy Nova.

When he’s not tinkering with cars, Devron turns to another lifelong passion: fishing.

When he was young, Devron’s grandfather would come to town from South Carolina and take him fishing along the Southwest Waterfront, now redeveloped and known as The Wharf.

“Back then, the waterfront was where they would sell seafood. There wasn’t a lot there when I started fishing as a young boy with just a string.”

All these years later, Devron still has the itch to fish, pursuing species such as rockfish and blue channel catfish.

As Devron edges closer to retirement, he’s eager to give back to the community, perhaps helping senior citizens, a job he's done before. 

“I love the elderly. In life, you have to have a purpose. I can't just be going fishing and playing with cars all day. I’ve got to help somebody. It’s time for me to give back. I’ve got to do God's work.”