TAMPICO TORNADO, OCT. 21, 1965 (Rural Mail Carrier Has Retired)

 Boline Olson recently retired after 41 years as a rural mail carrier out of the Tampico post office. In that time he has had 25 cars and 2 Jeeps. When he started, his route was 28 miles with only 1 mile of improved road. When he retired he was traveling 61 miles a day. He figures he covered 551,800 miles on his route during the 41 years.

Mr. Olson tells us that originally there were three routes with George Lutyens, Rte. 1, Glenn Steadman, Rte 2, and John Turner, Rte 3. A fourth route was started two yeears later with Fred Pierce, carrier. All four have passed away.

When the carriers changed from horses and buggies to cars, John Turner resigned. His place was taken by James Erickson and on his retirement Michael Donnelly became a carrier in 1951 and now has Rte. 1. George Lutyens resigned about 1923 after 30 years of services and Mr. Olson took his place in 1924, with Bert Harrington, a substitute carrier, delivering the mail in the meantime.

Mr. Olson has had three substitutes during the 41 years, Lloyd Deitz, Roy Rosene and Lowell Egert.

Fred Pierce resigned in July, 1929, having been a carrier for 23 years. The service was then cut to three routes. In 1933 the 30-year retirement plan forced Mr. Steadman to resign and delivery was cut to two routes.

Roy Rosene was also his substitute for many years. Mr. Olson worked under three postmasters, Dr. Edwin Temple, Hubert Darby and Larry Myers. Lowell Egert is now substittute carrier on Route 2 until an appointment is made.

 RELATED LINKS: Photos of mail carriers and events click here