Driver of the Week: Joe Ortiz

Age: 58.

Hometown: Kansas City, Kan.

Why I drive: The pleasure of helping people, meeting very interesting people. And I like the freedom to move about.

What I do when I’m not driving: Watch football. Good or bad years, I’m always a Chiefs fan.

Personal cars: Mercury Grand Marquis and a Lincoln Towncar.

First car: A 1960 F85 Oldsmobile. It was the predecessor of the Cutlass, but it looked nothing like the Cutlass. I bought it when I was 18 from one of my high school teachers. I wore it out; I didn’t know much about cars then — even how to change the oil.

Favorite limo moment: Meeting Sparky Anderson, the baseball manager. He was here to visit Ewing Kauffman a month before Mr. Kauffman died. I didn’t recognize him but I kept looking at him because he looked familiar, and he said, “I’m Sparky Anderson.” I hadn’t recognized him because whenever I’d seen him, he was wearing his uniform and cap.

Do you want Joe Ortiz to take you out to the ballgame — or anywhere else around town? Call 816-756-3100 and request him as your driver.