Herbert 'Grandpa' Wildes Retires After 57 Years of Outstanding Gov't Service

It’s official.  Herbert Wildes, number one on the clerk craft seniority list, has retired.

For many years, Wildes found his “home away from home” with his “postal family” at the Miami General Mail Facility (GMF) Finance Unit where he provided outstanding service to his customers and earned the admiration of his co-workers. Over the years, some employees bid to other positions closer to home or with more convenient work hours, but Wildes remained the patriarch of the Miami GMF Finance Unit. 

Retail Associate Briggett Glinton shared the retail counter with Wildes for many years and organized a retirement celebration at a local banquet hall.  On Sunday, June 29, all co-workers gathered to pay tribute to Wildes, affectionately known as “Grandpa.”

On behalf of the group, Miami Postmaster Enrique Suarez presented Wildes with a clock with an inscription thanking him for his outstanding service over the years.  American Postal Workers Union APWU) General President Paula Mullens and Executive Vice President Eddie Caldwell also praised Wildes before family and peers.

Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte presented Wildes with a retirement scrapbook of photos which brought back memories.

“When I started my career, it was not the ‘United States Postal Service.’  It was the ‘United States Post Office’ and was financed with taxpayers’ money,” said Wildes. “Today it is financed with money we take in.”

He continued:  “I began at the Post Office Annex.  We would report for work two to three hours, then get off the clock and wait in the swing room until we went back to work for a few more hours.  Many days we were at the Post Office 12 or more hours for eight hours of pay.  When I started, postal pay was the lowest pay in the city so in hindsight, the working conditions are much better now than they were then.”

From left, APWU General President Paula Mullen and Executive Vice President Eddie Caldwell  present Wildes a plaque in recognition of his years of service and union membership. Photo: Mirtha D. Uriarte

From left, Herbert and Carol Wildes stand in amazement as Miami Postmaster Enrique M. Suarez unveils "Grandpa's" very own stamp enlargement. Photo: Mirtha D. Uriarte

Carol and Herbert Wildes display all recognition awards presented to "Grandpa."  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Herbert and Carol Wildes dance at the retirement celebration.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Herbert "Grandpa" Wildes (center) with L to R former Manager, GMF Window Services China Velez, Retail Associate Raysa Rojas, Retail Associate Sonia Cofino, Retired Retail Associate Esther Gonzalez, Retail Associate Myriam Matias, Retail Associate Irma Knighton, Retail Associate Briggett Glinton, Retail Associate Nease Pieze, Retired Claims and Inquiry Clerk Sakeenah Shaheed, and Retired Retail Associate Louis Johnson.  Back Row:  Retail Associate Jorge Herrera, Jose Rojas. Photo: Mirtha D. Uriarte