Leaving Post

E COLL AT EG ST E APRIL 1 2016 PA, 16802 LookingWeAre into the lives of those who Vol. 116, No. 130 Friday, April 1, 2016 embody what Penn State is all about. LEAVING HIS POST Penn State celebrity Mike the Mailman will retire today, exactly 48 years aft er he started working for the U.S. Postal Service By Matt Guerry calls the Cheers First Class Tour. Originally dubbed THE DAILY COLLEGIAN the Cliff Claven Tour, named after the wisecracking mailman from long-running sitcom “Cheers,” the Mike “the Mail- tour has grown considerably since its inception some man” Herr starts 30 years ago. each day of work at “It’s always been a good time,” he said. “It used to 8:20 a.m., but he likes be just students. Now it’s students, faculty and staff. to report for duty a lit- In fact, I’m getting more faculty and staff. It’s fun for tle closer to 8:19 a.m. them just to get out and about.” After clocking in, he “Cheers” used to air Thursday night, Mike sets to work stocking the postage stamps, envelopes explained, and to this day the tour and packaging available for purchase at the Univer- continues to be held on Thursday sity Park U.S. Postal Office, which he has manned for evenings. over four decades. “People have Though the doors officially open at 8:30 a.m., Mike told me that I’m will have usually set up shop by 8:29 a.m. Inside, the a people per- office walls are lined with the many photos and post- son. I have fun ers Mike has acquired, as well as the motivational being humorous. signs he is known to make by hand. I’m not really one to tell “My wife will tell you I’ve been very consistent with jokes, but if something re- everything I do. But working at a place for 48 years minds me of a joke I will say it right tells you that I’ve been consistent,” he said while away,” Mike said with a snap of his fin- gers. laughing. “I think it works on the job. I’ve told people this a A local celebrity of sorts, Mike is known to Penn lot of times: if you’re going to be somewhere for eight Staters for his friendly nature and keen sense of co- hours, have fun with it.” medic timing. On Friday April 1, he will retire on the Though he is often recognized in public, even when 48th anniversary of his first day of work in the postal traveling outside of State College, Mike thinks of service. himself quite humbly. Despite having been featured Dave Gingher, a friend of Mike’s and Penn State’s on CBS News and even receiving a letter of commen- director of campus retail dining, spoke of the unique dation from President Barack Obama, he doesn’t let stamp Herr has left on the post office. his fame go to his head. “He’s just a very special guy,” Gingher said, voic- “As far as being a celebrity? I don’t think I am,” ing his admiration for Mike’s ability to cheer up oth- he chuckled. “I think if you show some kindness to ers. “He sees so many people every day, and he just people, or try to help people, they reciprocate by rec- seems to know when to push that button.” ognizing me. They must have had a positive experi- When it comes to his customers, Mike remarked ence, or they wouldn’t have said hi. And to me, that’s that he feels “sometimes like a bartender: I know ex- a good thing.” actly what they wanted when they came in.” Friends of Mike’s, like Penn State administrative In his spare time, Mike said he likes to landscape support assistant Becky Halpenny, see things a little and enjoys playing poker and tennis. He is the father differently. of two daughters, Marykate and Michaela, and clari- “Wherever he travels to, I’ll ask him when he fied that he is not only married, but also happily so. comes back ‘How many people yelled at you? How “[Katie and I] have been married for nearly 40 many people knew you? How many people did you years…I’m a lucky guy. She’s the best bride ever,” have to have your picture taken with?’ ” Halpenny he said. “We have such a great family. To me, I think said. “My mother passed away last month, and he that’s the most important thing. If you’re happy at and his wife Katie came to my mother’s funeral, home, everything else is easy.” which meant a lot to me. My pastor, who graduated In 1968, after graduating from Waynesburg Com- from Penn State, said he didn’t know we were going munity College with a degree in computer sci- to have a celebrity at the funeral.” ence, Mike began working at a post office Halpenny added that Mike will be missed terribly, n e a r his hometown of Lock Haven, and that it will be a different post office without him. Pennsylvania. While there, he Mike’s wife Katie has been retired for four years, attended classes at Penn he said, and he himself had kicked around the idea State part time. of retirement for the past two or three. He hopes to “I worked for like, spend more time biking, hiking and even volunteer- four or five years in the ing with his wife after retirement, and also plans on night shift, and then I compiling a book of stories he’s collected through the got an opportunity to work years. at the window in State College “It’s bittersweet, you know? I like what I’m doing,” where I sold stamps and stuff,” he he said. “One thing my wife says about retirement, is said. “There used to be two people that ‘your time is your own.’ ” worked at the post office in University Park. There are a lot of figures from whom Penn State So the back-up position for [me] was to go up students can learn and, taking Mike for example, there and — when one of those people took off — I they aren’t always necessarily educators. could go right in.” “I try to project a positive attitude, and I hope that It was around this time, Mike said, that he began they are positive in their lifetime,” Mike said of the to focus less on his classes and more on his career. students. “I’m not trying to preach here, but as a pok- “I told my wife the first day, I said ‘Katie… I found er player I can read faces all the time — and I do all a place at the University Park office that I really like,’ the time. And I can see it in some kids’ eyes how they ” Mike said. might be feeling…but I think if they just be positive After one University Park postal employee retired, and be patient, things will work out.” Mike was officially brought on as his replacement. After clocking out for the final time, Mike said he’d Over time, Mike would become the sole employee of like to go home and raise a glass to his wife and fam- the office, though he doesn’t like to call himself the ily for “hanging in there with me through all my sil- boss. liness.” “I had some great times with the partners I had “It’s been a great ride. I really had a nice time at the there, good guys and gals,” he reflected. “I’m alone post office,” he said, beaming. “When I started out, I now, but I still like it. Every day I like it, and very few never dreamed of being ‘Mike the Mailman.’ I never people can say that they personally go to work in a dreamed of having 48 great years. I never dreamed park.” of having so much fun, and I never dreamed of hav- A longstanding fixture on campus, Mike had a lot ing such a great family. I could never have planned in to say about Penn State’s many traditions, such as my mind a more perfect life. I’m a lucky guy.” the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Since the early 1990s, Mike has To email reporter: [email protected]. been actively involved in the Kids’ Mail Call, a staple Follow him on Twitter at @MattGuerry. of THON. Similarly, Mike has been invited by student orga- $ULHO6KDŎU&ROOHJLDQ nizations to participate in all manner of functions. Date auctions, pageant judging and even acting on stage with the Penn State Thespians rank among his accomplishments. “I can’t say enough about Joe Paterno,” Mike added. “To me, he has done more for this univer- FAN MAIL sity than anyone that I could imagine.” Among those traditions are a few invented by Mike himself, like the Cookie of the Month Page 2 Club. Those who bring a batch of the baked goods Mike’s way are entered into the competition, with winners receiving both their names on Mike’s award board as well as a handmade postcard. Another tradition of his is the yearly bar tour he PAGE 2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016 LOCAL THE DAILY COLLEGIAN FAN MAIL Editor’s Note: The Daily Collegian sent out a survey on social media asking people to share their favorite Mike the Mailman stories.

Load more