Cleophus Brown and Negro League Baseball

In 1947, Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black major league baseball player. Officially, the color barrier in baseball was broken, but the reality was that it took decades for American baseball to become fully integrated.

One of our Alabama USPS employees played professional baseball during this time in the 1950's in what was called the Negro National League. 76-year-old Birmingham MVS driver Cleophus Brown pitched and played first base for the Louisville Clippers and the Birmingham Black Barons.

Postmarks' interview with Mr. Brown will be included in this quarter's newsletter.

Carrier Dave Jeffferson Helps Elderly Customer

Last week, the Postmaster of Huntsville's Haysland Station received a letter about Carrier Dave Jefferson. It was written by the daughter of one of the elderly customers on Jefferson's route. To safeguard the customer's privacy, Postmarks is going to edit out customer names and addresses included in the letter.

Dear Mr Vess:

I wold like for you to know about an incident that happened on November 17, 2009 to my 91-year-old mother. Mother stepped out of her kitchen to push the garage door opener and fell. She landed on the garage floor. Thank goodness the garage door was open.

Within minutes, her mailman, Dave Jefferson, was delivering mail on Mother's street. Mother tried to signal him that she was in trouble. He heard her, but he thought that she was being her usual friendly self and did not see the predicament that she was in. After driving a few minutes, he felt uneasy and returned to Mother's house, went into her garage, and found her sitting on the garage floor. He immediately called 911 and me and remained with her until the ambulance came. What is so frightening is how long my mother might have been sitting on that garage floor if it had not been for Dave Jefferson.

Unfortunately, she had broken her hip; however, she is recuperating very well. Since she's been home, Dave has checked on her numerous times. My mother, her family, and her many friends are so grateful for Dave jefferson. He not only does a wonderful job as their mailman, but he makes the effort to know the people he serves and checks on their welfare. We think that it is very admirable that Dave considers his job more than just a job but also as a way to serve his community.

What a touching tribute to a thoughtful, conscientious carrier! For being willing to lend a helping hand, Dave Jefferson is this week's winner of the On the Job, On the Ball Trophy. What would have happened to Dave's customer had he not cared enough to turn around and try to help? Also, note the impact that writing a letter can have; Dave Jefferson will never forget having received it.

To read more about this incident and Dave Jefferson, see the next issue of Postmarks.

Gardening Made Simple Class

Today in Alabama is the first one this year that really feels like Spring, There's lots of sunshine, and in most of the state, the temperature is expected to rise into the 70's. Now is the perfect time to start a garden.

Don't know where to begin? Next Wednesday, March 24, Beverly May is teaching a class called Gardening Made Simple. It will be held at the Birmingham Main Post Office, Room 277. It is free and open to all employees.

See the flyer below for details.

Heroic Carrier Lisa Gray Saves Woman's Life

While on her route last week, Helena Carrier Lisa Gray noticed that a customer’s yard had filled with water in the short amount of time that had passed since she had delivered the mail there earlier in the day.


She heard yelling and then saw the customer, a woman in her 60’s, clinging to a rock in her flowerbed, trying to keep the rushing water from pulling her into a nearby storm drain. All Lisa could see was the woman’s head. “I just pulled up in her driveway real quick and jumped out,” Lisa said.

Wading waist deep into the rushing water, Lisa grabbed the woman with one hand and used her cell phone to call 911 with the other. ”The operator wanted me to stay on the line, but I said to her I can't do that." She needed both hands to hang on, and even they weren't enough.

The moment that help arrived, the woman slipped from Lisa’s grasp and entered the flooded drain. The police officer rushed to the other end of the drain, which was about fifty feet from the opening, grabbed the woman when she emerged, and revived her. The woman remains in the hospital but is expected to make a full recovery.

Lisa denies that she did anything heroic and is uncomfortable with all of the attention that she is receiving. "I would just hope that anyone would do that," she said.

                          
For her bravery, concern, and modesty, Postmarks presents this week's On the Job, On the Ball virtual trophy to Lisa Gray, who deserves a stack of awards. We wish that we could do much more to show our respect and appreciation.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

To read a longer article about Lisa Gray, see the next issue of Postmarks.

Monarch Estates Carrier Appreciation Day

Monarch Estates is a assisted-living facility in Auburn, Alabama. The residents wanted their carrier, City Carrier Donna McGinty, to know how much they appreciated her care and service, so last week, they arranged their own Carrier Appreciation Day: they provided and delivered  sack lunches for all 35 Auburn carriers.

When asked about her relationship with the 95 residents, Ms. McGinty said, "I see them all as my grandparents, and I want to treat them like I would want to be treated."

Postmarks wishes to thank Monarch Estates for their considerate efforts: all the Auburn carriers are very grateful for the meals and especially for your positive thoughts and gestures of gratitude. Knowing that we make people happy by caring and providing good service is something that all employees need to remember, and it's great to be reminded of that.

And we especially extend a big thank you to Donna McGinty. Your dedicated service is admirable, an example for everyone to emulate.

A full article about this event will be included in this quarter's newsletter.

This Week's Troll-phy

Red Bay PTF Retail Associate Renee Smallwood adores the Travelocity Gnome. When she went to The Roaming Gnome online store to purchase a t-shirt, she noticed that the shipping was expensive and that USPS was not an option.

She emailed the company, explained that she was a Postal worker and that USPS shipping was cheaper, and within a day, not only did the store offer USPS shipping, it also made USPS the default shipper for their online orders.

"I just explained to them that we offer a great service for an affordable price," said Smallwood. After the shipping change was in place, she went ahead and ordered the shirt.

Postmarks thinks that Renee is the perfect example of what we should all be doing right now, and to show her how much we admire her gumption and common sense, we award her this week's On the Ball trophy.

A longer version of this story will be included in this quarter's newsletter.

Note to readers: Postmarks is aware the gnomes and trolls are not the same thing.

Birmingham Consumer Protection Event

This years's theme for Consumer Protection Week is Dollars and Sense: Rated A for all Ages.

Thursday, the Alabama District Office will host its annual event at 10:00am in the Main Post Office Lobby. Jefferson County Sherrif Mike Hale will be the featured speaker.

If your office is hosting an event for Consumer Protection Week, if you have any tips that you'd like to share with your fellow employees, or if you have a story of identity theft or of being the victim of a scam, contact Postmarks.