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“Every one of them,” local USPS mail carrier Kevin Knox said of dog owners in denial after the owner’s best friend sank its teeth into him. “That or, ‘I can’t believe they just did that.” Sustaining a total of nine separate bites from canines over his twenty-two-year career with the United States Postal Service, Knox retired from his carrier duties as of Friday September 29, having spent a previous eight years in the U. S. Army, both organizations that are mandated to exist under Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution—encouraging long-term job stability, among other things.

“I’ve had 30 years in federal service,” Knox said of his time spent in the Army and Post Office. Between the two posts, Knox spent seven years working for Mason Shoes.

“Other than farm jobs, that’s it,” he said of personal employment history. But the local letter carrier who thinks back on his time milking cows as “the good old days” didn’t start his career with the U. S. Postal Service in Stanley. Instead, he started it in Eau Claire, transferring to the local area seven years ago after Stanley mail carrier Alden Dahl retired.

“I worked in Eau Claire for 15 years,” Knox said. “I worked out of the carrier annex and was a carrier my

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whole career.” So how did he get started at the job that offers healthcare and sick time to those who stick with it?

“I went and applied one day,” Knox shared. “I was working five weeks later.” Quizzed as to why he chose to work for the post office he said that “It made a decent living for my family,” although he also said “it was a little hard getting started.” At present, employees of the U.S. Postal Service have to pass a postal exam and generally start their careers out part-time, then move up the ranks if they’re willing to stick with it. Speaking of which, Knox already has a replacement, with his duties being taken over by local Stanley carrier Chris Nelson until someone else is hired to his former post. A sub will be taking over Nelson’s duties when she takes over those of Knox.

“After I get done, this is her job,” Knox said of Nelson some 59 minutes from the end of his shift Friday on North Franklin Street. As for those who may be interested in starting a career with the U.S. Postal Service either as a mail carrier or a position less prone to dog bites, more information can be found by clicking the “careers” link in the lower left side of the home page at www.usps.com. Wind, snow, sleet or hail, nothing stops the U.S. mail—provided there’s adequate staffing, of course.

Photo by Joseph Back.