Robert Jones: 50 Years and Counting!

South Florida District Manager Jeff Becker (R) presents Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic Robert Jones (L) with Letter of Appreciation commemorating 50 years of outstanding service. L to R: Miami Plant Manager Rick Suarez, Senior Plant Manager Jennifer Stevenson, MPE Robert Jones, District Manager Jeff Becker, and Maintenance Manager Rick Amezquita celebrate Robert's career milestone.

Robert Jones began his career in Cleveland Ohio and never gave it a thought that one day he would be celebrating 50 years in the Postal Service.

"I just came to work every day and did my job," Robert said. "I never really planned to stay for 50 years from the get-go, but one year became another and here I am."

In Cleveland, Robert unloaded trucks and then worked as a letter carrier for eight years. Uncle Sam called him to serve in the Army for 2 years, and then he returned as a Special Delivery Messenger, and then worked in Maintenance at a facility near Lake Erie.

"It was soooo cold. I would unload a truck for 15 minutes, and then have to come inside to warm up," Robert said.

It's the warm weather that brought Robert to South Florida in 1976. He transferred to MPE in Miami, first at the Biscayne Annex and now at the Miami GMF.

How has the Postal Service changed over the years?

"Tremendously," Robert said. "I remember those old blue cancelling machines, the machine that tied mail into bundles, and the Single Position Letter Sorting Machine. Now we are in the digital age with all these computers."

Robert enjoys his job and has fond memories of being on an overhaul team that travelled to Texas and Louisiana to move and install Letter Sorting Machines (LSMs). Today his MPE job involves "basically a little bit of everything." Robert has performed maintenance on all equipment at the Miami GMF. In addition, he runs test mail, conducts mail searches, and pulls reports.

"I like to troubleshoot and fix the equipment the most," Robert said.

What is his secret to postal longevity?

"Keeping a positive attitude and taking pride in your work," Robert said. "Learning all there is to know about your job and helping the Postal Service survive as a business for many years to come."