POCATELLO — Local mailman Bob Smith retired at the end of January after a 41- year career of delivering the mail and connecting with the community as a member of the U.S. Postal Service.
Smith said he originally applied to be a mailman after going to sign up for selective service. He saw applications and filled one out. The post office reached out to him and had him take a test.
“Two years later, they asked if I wanted the job,” Smith said. “It was a good time, so I took it.”
For most of Smith’s career, he has delivered mail to the East Bench Road area. He has watched many homes in that area being built, and he has watched a lot of families grow up.
“The kids grow up and become doctors,” Smith said. “You meet a lot of people. I’ve made friends with great neighbors.”
One experience Smith had as a mailman was back in 1985 when he was at the beginning of his career. He had to stop a roll away vehicle. The vehicle had children trapped inside.
“I got a Lifesaving Award,” Smith said. “That was the year after I started there.”
