Why don't you send me an email with his name.
doneikenberrry@hotmail.com
It's optional to have your name removed from the FAA database, so maybe the guy did that. Also, if he doesn't maintain a medical, I'm not sure how long they keep your name in the database.
I was on the 727 at UPS from 1990 until this March and nothing from your story so far rings a bell. Could be he flew for one of the UPS subcontractors prior to 1988, too. You might have more luck going to the school where he used to work to track him down.