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Broken Bow Post Master set to retire |
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Friday, 21 March 2008 |
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 Kathy Hand, acting manager of postal operations presented Rick Hank with a pin and certificate for his 30 years of service to the US Post Office. Hank steps into retirement at the end of this month.
By DEBORAH McCASLIN
Chief Publisher
Rick Hank is retiring. The Broken Bow Post Master steps down March 31. March 10 he was honored by the United States Postal system for 31 years of service to his country, 28 to the post office and two for prior military service.
Hank says idol time does not await, grandpa duties are calling and traveling is definitely on his agenda.
“My wife says this is going to be nice.”
Wife Karen is a second grade teacher with the Broken Bow School system and has no plans of retiring any time soon, he added.
Hank’s time with the post office started in Neligh where he worked as a barber. He was cutting hair one day when the customers were talking about a test being given by the post office for an opening they had coming up. Hank took the test, along with about 30-40 others that day and scored in the top three. An interview followed.
A year and a half later he was hired on as a Neligh city carrier.
“Everyone starts out part time, that’s the way it works,” he said.
Hank says he worked part time for the post office from 1980-1984, cutting hair on the side. His first postmaster position followed in Allen from 1984-1987, back to Neligh as their post master from 1987-1990 and to Broken Bow August 1990 to March 2008.
“When I first started in Broken Bow two people used to sort first class mail for an hour. Now one person can complete the task in 40 minutes or less,” Hank said. “Flat mail arrives presorted.”
Over the years Hank says he has seen huge changes in the postal system. First class mail volume has gone down and bulk mail volume gone up.
Electronic transmissions have impacted the system, but there is still a need that only hard copy fulfills, said Hank.
“I don’t look for Saturday services to go away. There are a lot of things that have yet to be adjusted, but I feel we are very important to the American people. People still like to get letters. They like to hold these letters in their hands,” he said.
When he first arrived in Broken Bow there was also a full-time supervisor in charge of the mail carriers. Hank was in charge of the clerks. Now he fills both roles. The Broken Bow Post Office currently has 16 employees.
“Sandy (Manning) and I are the originals,” he said, adding that he is pleased so many of the folks have been promoted on.
Kathy Hand, the acting manager of Postal Operations for 688 and 689 zip codes, says an officer in charge will come in the interim, and a new post master will be named in 60-90 days.
“Broken Bow has been a nice community. It’s not been hard work, but it has been very rewarding work. Where did the time go?” Hank remarked.
Hank invites folks to stop by the Post Office in Broken Bow the morning of Mar. 31 to have a cup of coffee and something to eat. That will be his last day and he’d like the opportunity to say thanks to the Post Office patrons for his 18 years in Broken Bow.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 March 2008 )
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Huskers.com
