Our

ver Lee DeWyze Sr.’s 25-year And letter carriers and other Elk Grove Ocareer as a letter carrier, May 26 Village postal workers showed their sup- was ordinarily just another day port for Lee Jr. back home by sporting of delivering the mail on his route in T-shirts that read “Vote 4 Lee” and “A suburban . DeWyze Choice” at off-the-clock “Ameri- But this year, the Arlington Heights, can Idol”-themed get-togethers. Illinois Branch 2810 member spent the While the Elk Grove carriers wore evening of May 26 in Hollywood, Califor- their pride for Lee Jr. on their sleeves— nia, joining a live studio audience and and their backs—they say Lee Sr. let his millions of Fox television viewers nation- son do most of the talking, both on the wide to proudly watch as his son, Lee Jr., television show and during concerts. was crowned the latest winner of the “(Lee Sr.) was very modest,” said popular television talent show “American shop steward Murray Rafolowitz. “He Idol”—a trip west made possible by the generous help of his fellow letter carriers at his Elk Grove Village postal station. Lee Sr.’s co-workers pitched in by Below: Letter carriers and other drumming up as many call-in votes as co-workers of Lee DeWyze Sr. they could in support of his son at the Elk Grove Village postal throughout the five-months-long singing station cheer for the Arlington competition, and also by donating Heights, Illinois Branch 2810 member’s son, as the winner of money to help their fellow carrier and this year’s “.” his wife, Kathy, pay for travel between Right: Lee DeWyze Jr. performs and their home in Mount on stage. Prospect, Illinois, where Lee Jr. grew up.

would let us know the songs that might be coming up. “There’s nobody who has more integrity,” said Rafolowitz. “He’s a very devoted family man.” Elk Grove carrier Judy Silander, who first started passing the hat to help defray the DeWyze family’s travel expenses, said at first her support of Lee Jr. was really geared more toward helping out a co-worker—that is, until she tuned in to an “American Idol” episode and heard him sing.

48 POSTAL RECORD I JULY 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS “I was going to vote for him regard- less, but he was really good,” she said. “I realized how stunning this is for him, to come out No. 1 out of 10,000 contestants.” “They’ve been very, very kind and supportive,” said a proud Lee Sr. of his co-workers. “A lot were wearing the T-shirts before it was the ‘in’ thing.” Journey to stardom A springtime rally for the two Lee DeWyze Jr. thanks the DeWyze men at the Elk Grove station crowd at the Lee DeWyze Day Just a few months ago, a 24-year-old concert in Mount Prospect. was part of the frenzy of attention DeWyze Sr. (l) was on hand to Lee DeWyze Jr. was working at Mount that was focused on the “Idol” hopeful experience the phenomenon Prospect Paints by day and playing when he advanced to the final round surrounding his son. occasional concerts in local bars at of competition in late May. His home- night. He also squeezed in some time town of Mount Prospect sponsored a after his long hours at work to record “Lee DeWyze Day,” which featured two albums, “Slumberland” and “So an outdoor concert that gave Lee Sr. I’m Told.” and Kathy a chance to watch their Initially, Lee Jr. told his father that he son perform before thousands of ador- was reluctant to audition for “American ing fans. Idol” because he doubted he would “The young girls were screaming, ‘I advance far through the run of the love you, Lee!’ and it was like a Beat- show, which just completed its ninth les show in the late ’60s,” said Elk season as one of the highest-rated Grove letter carrier Jeff Wehrmeister. shows on television. The program’s con- “I can only imagine how his dad must testants are eliminated over the course have felt.” of several months, both by judges and The DeWyzes were mobbed by well- by viewers who cast their votes for their wishers as they rode in a Mustang con- favorite artist through phone calls and vertible in a parade staged just for Lee cell phone text messages. Jr., and the future “American Idol” win- Lee Jr.’s doubts were quickly put to ner was honored to throw out the first rest, however, as he rapidly ascended pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game through the ranks in a competition that against the Pittsburgh Pirates May 14 at began last fall with tens of thousands of Wrigley Field. hopefuls auditioning in , , Now, thanks to his “American Idol” Chicago, , , Los Angeles victory, Lee Jr. has a new, lucrative and Orlando. record contract, and his life has Though Lee Sr. gave his son his first become a steady stream of concert guitar, he says his son’s musical ability and talk show appearances. “We’re comes from his mother’s side. “He told we’re not going to see him until didn’t get his talent from me,” he said. October,” said Lee Sr. “He really has Even so, Lee Jr. credits his father an incredibly busy schedule. for some of his taste in music, not to “He works really, really hard; I’m mention his dogged determination to very proud of him,” said the elder pursue his dreams. The young singer/ DeWyze of his son. “He sure looks songwriter even had an arm tattooed like he’s in his element.” ✉ with lyrics from “Father and Son,” a song by and one of his You can hear Lee DeWyze Jr.’s music father’s favorites. at leedewyze.com.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS JULY 2010 I POSTAL RECORD 49