On Friday, a postal carrier in the Atlanta area completed his final route, 55 years after he initially began delivering mail.
Berndt Petersen of Channel 2 is at the Glenridge Drive branch of the United States Postal Service, where Thomas Jackson was honoured with a retirement party.
No one in Atlanta’s postal service has spent more time on the road than Jackson.
Rain, snow, heat, darkness of night, or pandemic have all failed to deter him
Jackson told Petersen that he feels you should keep doing what you love if you truly enjoy it.
“Back in the day, I was on a three-wheel scooter delivering mail,” Jackson said. “One in the front and two wheels in the back.”
They dubbed the vehicle a “Mailster,” and his truck has grown considerably in the intervening 52 years.
Jackson stated his travels have been between 30 and 40 miles for the past five to six years, five to six days a week, 52 weeks a year.
“There’s a lot of demand on postal carriers, but we get it done,” Jackson said.
Residents said they will miss his smile.
“Just an unbelievable person. Patient. Kind,” Jenny Krivo said. “And we always get our mail!”
Jackson said he will miss everything about his job.
“The people, the kids, even the dogs!” Jackson said.
