Sunday, May 5, 2024
Jimmy Williamson receives a plaque of recognition from Gatesville Postmaster Mike Hollingsworth.
Jimmy Williamson is pictured with two postal recipients in the Jonesboro community, who he has delivered mail to their families for five generations. From left, Linda Hill, Jimmy Williamson, and Brenda Hoherz.
After 42 years of service as a mail carrier, Jimmy Williamson recently retired. He was surprised with a retirement party that was held at the Gatesville Post Office where several of the families on his Jonesboro route were present to congratulate him. Also present were several of his co-workers and the postmaster who presented him with a plaque, pocket watch, and several other items.
About Williamson, Gatesville Postmaster Mike Hollingsworth said, “When I first took over as postmaster, I knew that Jimmy was out in Jonesboro, and I wouldn’t have to worry about their route being covered with him being out there.”
Williamson has worked on the Jonesboro route since 1981. On his route, he covers close to 160 miles per day.
“One hundred miles of it is gravel roads. So that will beat a vehicle all to pieces,” Williamson said. “Jeeps are the only vehicles that can keep up with that country driving.”
Reflecting on when he first started out, Williamson said, “Bob Rhudy asked me if I wanted to be a sub delivering mail, and I told him, ‘no,’ because I didn’t have the time. I was building fences. Then I got to thinking about it, and I thought there’s no retiring from fence building, so I accepted the position.”
When talking about the people on his route, he said, “With the postal customers, you’re just like family. I treat them like family. You have to know who they are.”
Williamson was asked about how many kids he’s seen grow up over the past 42 years. He replied, “I have two families that I’ve delivered mail to for five generations. Once you get to know the family, you even get to know the dog’s name.
“It’s so funny: Somebody in the community will be looking for something, and they’ll leave a note in the mailbox, and then I’ll call them up and say I know where the item is. It’s kind of like a big network where everybody knows everybody else – kind of like a neighborhood watch. If I’m not there to deliver the mail, they call me up and say, ‘what’s wrong?’”
About his retirement, Williamson said, “I’m going to miss it. I thought about not retiring… I thought about it for about 15 minutes, and then I got over it.”
