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Medrano works in print before joining USPS
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| Richard Medrano may not be able to call the shots as a postmaster since retiring from the United States Postal Service, but he can still upgrade the mail box in front of his home. Photo by MIKE PROBST |
By SANDRA MUSGROVE, Contributing Writer
Richard Medrano and his wife of 47 years Gloria, and I sat at their kitchen table, renewing longtime acquaintances. Though in years past, we'd lived next door to each other, in this talk I learned more about this quiet man and his work. We even concluded our conversation with discussion about current immigration issues.
He was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1935. When he was about eight years old, his only sibling, Margaret, prompted his parents to move because of her health and San Antonio became the family's new home. In Los Angeles, Richard's father had worked for a Spanish-language newspaper, and he continued work in publishing when he went to work for the San Antonio Light, until he retired. Richard's and Margaret's mother died while still in her early thirties.
After graduating from Fox Technical High School, Richard became a Marine and served 14 months in Korea. He specialized in communications and then returned stateside to Camp Pendleton, CA.
Upon discharge, he returned to San Antonio where finding work was his goal. Initially, Richard explained, “I was a house-to-house television repairman, but I quit because I just couldn't charge the fees my boss demanded.”
Almost apologetically, Richard said, “I really was a ‘tube-knocker' because I'd just replace every tube I bumped until one of them fixed the problem. Then I'd have to charge for all the tubes I had replaced. The prices were just too much and I felt so bad I quit.”
He then heard the post office was giving exams for employment. He took the exam, passed and was hired. He became a flexible clerk, meaning he would pick up a cash-box and go wherever they needed a substitute.
Richard and Gloria married in 1960 and have two children - Nelda and Rick.
Post office promotions began quickly. By 1969, Richard was responsible for San Antonio's registered mail division, and other titles followed until, in 1979, Richard became Postmaster in Pearsall, where his family then settled. They returned to San Antonio only after Richard's retirement at age 55.
We talked about Richard's many experiences, some of which he asked not be published, because “I don't want to say anything bad about the post office - they've been so good to me.” Clearly, loyalty is yet another fine trait of Richard Medrano.
But, in one station, he talked about one of his job assignments with the post office which required him to check on carriers' routines.
“A jeep route carrier was delivering his route, often driving the jeep in reverse,” he said.
My puzzlement prompted Richard's explanation.
“In those days, miles driven in reverse didn't show on the odometer. He (route carrier) then had the jeep to drive miles - for personal reasons,” he said.
Richard also told the story about a woman who came in and registered a letter to be sent to the Pope, in Rome at the Vatican. Soon, after receiving no response from the Pope, she began to contact Richard - at his office, at home and even speaking to Gloria, asking where her mail was and why she'd not heard from the Pope.
Her quest continued daily, for weeks, until Richard finally resolved her anxiety saying, “The Post Office can be sure your letter was delivered, but we can't do anything to get the Pope to answer.”
In retirement, Gloria and Richard returned to live in San Antonio, and often visited Richard's sister Margaret and her husband Roger who'd moved to Rockport. When a property next door to them became available, the Medranos bought it - also becoming our next door neighbors, until we moved three years later.
They settled in and Richard adhered to his longtime vision of retirement, explaining, “I was involved in so many things while I worked, but with retirement I vowed to spend time with my friends and family, only.”
The Medranos travel regularly for adventures and visits, also spending time on their front deck, watching the sun set over Copano Bay.
Our conversation shifted into other arenas, including a discussion about undocumented immigrants. Richard's father came to Los Angeles via a quota system.
Richard recalls, “As a little kid, I remember him studying to pass his citizenship test.”
Gloria's mother was a six-year-old refuge, when, along with her five sisters and parents, they arrived in Texas, by train, as refuges of the early 20th century Mexican revolution.
As I asked their feelings and beliefs of the problems, Richard said, “(The undocumented) fill a lot of jobs that no one in the states want to take.”
I commented about today's lack of incentive by so many young people, who are often supported by national, state and local welfare programs, making entry-level jobs, unattractive when compared to not working at all.
We all agreed something has to be fixed. We concluded our visit with a discussion about politicians who have abandoned their charge to make decisions - based on what is needed rather than what is politically profitable to them.
Gloria said, “But, we can't just keep bringing people into healthcare and school systems without a lot more funding.”
Like most of those who engage in such discussions, frustration was our conclusion, though anger at political leaders was increasingly evident.
It was good to talk to these friends and to add new depth to our past and present relationship.
Musgrove's writings appear on a regular basis in The Rockport Pilot. If you have story ideas contact her at 729-4927 or via email at musgrove@pyramid3.net.
He was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1935. When he was about eight years old, his only sibling, Margaret, prompted his parents to move because of her health and San Antonio became the family's new home. In Los Angeles, Richard's father had worked for a Spanish-language newspaper, and he continued work in publishing when he went to work for the San Antonio Light, until he retired. Richard's and Margaret's mother died while still in her early thirties.
After graduating from Fox Technical High School, Richard became a Marine and served 14 months in Korea. He specialized in communications and then returned stateside to Camp Pendleton, CA.
Upon discharge, he returned to San Antonio where finding work was his goal. Initially, Richard explained, “I was a house-to-house television repairman, but I quit because I just couldn't charge the fees my boss demanded.”
Almost apologetically, Richard said, “I really was a ‘tube-knocker' because I'd just replace every tube I bumped until one of them fixed the problem. Then I'd have to charge for all the tubes I had replaced. The prices were just too much and I felt so bad I quit.”
He then heard the post office was giving exams for employment. He took the exam, passed and was hired. He became a flexible clerk, meaning he would pick up a cash-box and go wherever they needed a substitute.
Richard and Gloria married in 1960 and have two children - Nelda and Rick.
Post office promotions began quickly. By 1969, Richard was responsible for San Antonio's registered mail division, and other titles followed until, in 1979, Richard became Postmaster in Pearsall, where his family then settled. They returned to San Antonio only after Richard's retirement at age 55.
We talked about Richard's many experiences, some of which he asked not be published, because “I don't want to say anything bad about the post office - they've been so good to me.” Clearly, loyalty is yet another fine trait of Richard Medrano.
But, in one station, he talked about one of his job assignments with the post office which required him to check on carriers' routines.
“A jeep route carrier was delivering his route, often driving the jeep in reverse,” he said.
My puzzlement prompted Richard's explanation.
“In those days, miles driven in reverse didn't show on the odometer. He (route carrier) then had the jeep to drive miles - for personal reasons,” he said.
Richard also told the story about a woman who came in and registered a letter to be sent to the Pope, in Rome at the Vatican. Soon, after receiving no response from the Pope, she began to contact Richard - at his office, at home and even speaking to Gloria, asking where her mail was and why she'd not heard from the Pope.
Her quest continued daily, for weeks, until Richard finally resolved her anxiety saying, “The Post Office can be sure your letter was delivered, but we can't do anything to get the Pope to answer.”
In retirement, Gloria and Richard returned to live in San Antonio, and often visited Richard's sister Margaret and her husband Roger who'd moved to Rockport. When a property next door to them became available, the Medranos bought it - also becoming our next door neighbors, until we moved three years later.
They settled in and Richard adhered to his longtime vision of retirement, explaining, “I was involved in so many things while I worked, but with retirement I vowed to spend time with my friends and family, only.”
The Medranos travel regularly for adventures and visits, also spending time on their front deck, watching the sun set over Copano Bay.
Our conversation shifted into other arenas, including a discussion about undocumented immigrants. Richard's father came to Los Angeles via a quota system.
Richard recalls, “As a little kid, I remember him studying to pass his citizenship test.”
Gloria's mother was a six-year-old refuge, when, along with her five sisters and parents, they arrived in Texas, by train, as refuges of the early 20th century Mexican revolution.
As I asked their feelings and beliefs of the problems, Richard said, “(The undocumented) fill a lot of jobs that no one in the states want to take.”
I commented about today's lack of incentive by so many young people, who are often supported by national, state and local welfare programs, making entry-level jobs, unattractive when compared to not working at all.
We all agreed something has to be fixed. We concluded our visit with a discussion about politicians who have abandoned their charge to make decisions - based on what is needed rather than what is politically profitable to them.
Gloria said, “But, we can't just keep bringing people into healthcare and school systems without a lot more funding.”
Like most of those who engage in such discussions, frustration was our conclusion, though anger at political leaders was increasingly evident.
It was good to talk to these friends and to add new depth to our past and present relationship.
Musgrove's writings appear on a regular basis in The Rockport Pilot. If you have story ideas contact her at 729-4927 or via email at musgrove@pyramid3.net.
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ZAGDA wrote on Feb 14, 2009 3:53 PM:
Instead of presenting this to the scientific world in a peer reviewed journal, these guys publish it in this book in an attempt to sway public opinion. I could go on as many of the statements in this article are misleading, or blatantly ludicrous. Suffice it to say, it looks to me like this book is much more about influencing public opinion than any scientific review of whether human activity is causing climate change.
It is sad some people will believe this as fact. "