Harris retires after 46-year postal career

Wappapello postmaster Ron Harris cancelled his last stamp Friday, Dec. 27, ending a 46-year-long career with the U.S. Postal Service. His official retirement date was Dec. 31.

Harris, 65, of Poplar Bluff took a 90-day temporary position at the post office during the holidays nearly five decades ago. Not only was he helping out the carriers, Harris was getting his foot in the postal system’s door.

Harris worked on the riverboat prior to going to work at the post office.

Wappapello postmaster Ron Harris was surprised Dec. 27 with a retirement cake and party. Photo provided

He’s been postmaster at the Wappapello office since 2014. His career has taken him from St. Louis, where he officially was hired, to Van Buren, Qulin and Campbell before Wappapello.

“I just wanted a promotion, and in order to get it, I would move to different offices,” he said.

He actually has lived in Poplar Bluff, which is midway between most of the post offices where he worked.

“I drove back and forth,” he said.

Harris admitted to doing his share of filling in, doing audits and training new employees for different offices.

“The post office has been my life,” he said. “They have been good to me. Now, is the time to venture out and enjoy life and enjoy the grandkids,”

Golf has been one of his favorite hobbies, and he hopes to get back into swing of the game.

He’s also planning “a lot of trips back and forth to the Springfield area.”

His twin sons, James and John, and three grandchildren live at Ozark. Harris also has a 19-year-old stepdaughter, Gena, who is a student at Three Rivers College.

His wife Sharon, a former postal employee, presently works at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. While she is not retiring, she will be suggesting how to juggle his busy schedule around her schedule, Harris said, with a chuckle in his voice.

When asked if she might provide a honey do list, he quickly said, “I know how to loose it.”

He explained, he and his wife are planning things they want to do.

While he’s excited about retirement and spending more time with his family, Harris said, “I have to compliment my employees.”

As postmaster, Harris officially was the boss, but his crew functioned as part of a team, and he praised each of them.

He talked about his “surprise party. It almost made a full grown man cry.”

His employees presented him with a cake, shirt and a dozen golf balls. His family and friends were invited, and “we had a good get together,” he said.

His employees were eager to applaud him.

Mail carrier Jacob Turner of Jackson said, “I served many years in the military. I think his mentorship and leadership are incomparable.”

Turner continued, “he lead us like no one else. We are taking a true hit. It has been a pleasure and honor to work with him. We gained so much being able to work for this man.”

Another coworker, Brandon Phillips of Oran said, “I just want to say we, the community and the employees, have been lucky to have him. We are taking a loss with him retiring.”