A United Postal Service driver was honored Thursday for saving the life of an 11th-grade Reynolds student on April 11.

Clyde Ritchey, 40, of Hartstown performed the Heimlich maneuver on 17-year-old David West after he began choking on chewing gum.

It was a Friday, an in-service day and classes were not in session. Ritchey, who normally has eight different routes, just happened to be on his route in the Reynolds High School area. Making his rounds, he stopped off at the school, pausing to watch David on the basketball court. Ritchey briefly watched David and was tempted to take 15 minutes off to challenge him one-on-one but said he had work to do.

Ritchey wasn't watching, however, when David went to make a shot and began choking on his bubble gum. David's face started turning blue and he couldn't breathe. He said he panicked, searching for help, and remembered seeing the UPS truck pull into the parking lot. Clutching his throat, he ran to the truck, banged on the side and was relieved to see Ritchey come around.

Ritchey said when he saw David gasping in distress, he didn't hesitate to perform the Heimlich, something he'd never done in his life. "It must have been instinct. I knew he was on his last page and I didn't have time for 911," he said.

After David regained his breathing, Ritchey gave him a glass of water and the two went their separate ways, but both spent the next few days thinking about what happened.

David thanked Ritchey Thursday for saving his life during a recognition ceremony before dozens of 11th-graders, UPS workers, and school administrators and board members. "I would like to thank him for being there because if he wasn't, I wouldn't be here today. Thank goodness he was there."

Having four kids about David's age, Ritchey said he reacted like a parent. "It was like I saved one of my own," he said.

"For several days it was hard to see with the tears in my eyes. I have four kids of my own. I have a son in Iraq I haven't heard from in four weeks."

Several awards were presented to him in recognition of his heroics. United Way presented Ritchey a "Choose to Care" award, the Reynolds Key Club presented him with a $50 gift certificate to Applebee's, Wal-Mart presented a $25 gift card, he received an award from Students for Charity, and Liberty Mutual plans to present him the "Life Saver" award later this month in Meadville.

High School Principal Joe Torok called Ritchey a "guardian angel" and "someone David is never going to forget."

"If it wasn't for that man who happened to be there, David wouldn't be here today," Torok said.

After transferring from Jamestown High School to Reynolds in December, David hasn't had a chance to play basketball for his high school team, but says from now on when he is playing ball, he's not chewing gum.

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