Marcos Perez III, San Antonio

Hero Marcos Perez

San Antonio Letter Carrier Marcos Perez III recently became one of just a handful of people in South Texas to reach a remarkable milestone: donating 100 gallons of blood.

The achievement, which has received international media attention, has earned him recognition as a PMG Hero.

“Mr. Perez is what you’d consider an all-star for the blood community,” South Texas Blood and Tissue Center spokesman Roger Ruiz said soon after the Postal Service employee hit the 100-gallon mark.

The 57-year-old Perez, who needed a life-saving transfusion himself after being born prematurely, has donated blood platelets every two weeks for the past 34 years — likely helping countless cancer patients, accident victims and others, according to the center.

Platelets are a blood component that allows people to donate more often than if they were giving whole blood.

“I will keep donating until they tell me I can no longer donate,” he said.


Employees featured in “Heroes’ Corner” also receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.