Local Mailman Celebrating 50 Years On The Job

Friday, May 18th 2007, 4:02 pm

By: News On 6

People just don't work for one employer as long as they once did, but on Friday, the News On 6â€™s Rick Wells walked along with a postman who is celebrating 50 years of carrying the mail. He reports in fact, he's been on the same mail route for 30 of those years

Leo Dayer is working his way through his postal route just like he has every day for the last 50 years, and he loves it.

"If I didn't enjoy my work, I wouldn't be here,â€ said Dayer.

He's got enough seniority to have his pick of any mail route in town. He likes this one, and he likes walking.

"So how far do you think that you walk?â€ asked News On 6 reporter Rick Wells.

"I think five or six miles a day," Dayer said.

He says he has about 850 apartments and duplexes on the route, not many dogs and the mail is lighter. Customers like him because he's consistent.

"He the best mailman we ever had, always on time, 10:30 every morning," said resident Wallace Brown.

Dayer says after years on the same route, you learn which are the tricky mailboxes and where the shortcuts are.

Heâ€™s been driving one of those little mail trucks for 50 years and never had an accident, not one. The post office gives a one million mile safe driving award. He got that 30 years ago

"How much were stamps when you first started?" asked News On 6 reporter Rick Wells.

â€œI think 3 cents," said Dayer.

Dayers says he's delivered about 25 million pieces of mail since he started in 1957. There have been lots of computers since then, computer sorting and computer tracking, but with all the computers, the basics of this job he's loved for so long are still the same.

"You've still got to put the letter in the mailbox," Dayer said.

He has no plans to retire. He says he gets up every morning and goes for his walk which he says keeps him in shape.

Watch the video: Postman Celebrates 50 Years