Hail to the postmaster
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Ann Lewis first entered the mail system as a clerk in the `70s, and what a ride it has been for the former Murchison Post Office postmaster.

"It was the `in' thing back then," Lewis said.

Lewis retired Thursday, January 3 to head to the opposite side of the thermometer in Minnesota and perform title work with her husband of around a year, Elliott Boyles.

"I've lived here almost all my life," Ann said of Murchison. "I was born in Athens and raised north of Murchison on the family farm."

Lewis said she liked Murchison's small town flair and warmth.

"Everybody knows everybody," Lewis added.

Ann's first day in the US Postal System began in the Brownsboro Post Office in 1977. She later applied to become a postmaster and ever since has spent her life traveling from post office to post office getting the mail through.

"As a postmaster I have total responsibility for the post office," Lewis said. "It is my job to see the mail delivered and the customers taken care of."

From Brownsboro and Murchison's post offices Postmaster Lewis went to Wood County and Quitman in 1993, Lindale in 1994 and '95 then shipped off to Lindale for Ben Wheeler in 1999 through 2000. Here she went to Forney in 2001 and Van from 2002 to 2003.

Ann Lewis

Also of note during this period is the fact she was the editor of the Quality of Work Life Ruralcraft Newspaper from 1997 to 2001.

The short stays in many of the towns of East Texas are obvious, though Lewis said this was not because of any dislike of the areas she worked, but because her job as a postmaster sees her moving around a great deal.

From 2000 to 2007 Ann Lewis also served as an aviation security officer in the Murchison office.

"I checked security measures for aviation security in the mail system," Lewis said.

Even including her stay as a trainer for the Dallas District training Craft employees as mandated by the post office unions, Lewis has worked in the Murchison post office for 26 years.

She has been a member of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States and even been a lobbyist for the group on Capitol Hill. Ann was also in the Kickapoo Kiwanis Club, and a board member of the Texas Inmate Families Association, a group designed to support and encourage the family members of the in- carcerated.

In addition, Lewis is about to be trained as a grant writer, she said Thursday, January 3.

Leaving the office, Ann Lewis reminisced about her career.

"I've been blessed with a good job and the best employees, " Lewis said. "I have a good life and good children."

Ann has two grown children and one grandson.

"Allowing God to take care of my life has been the natural thing to do," Ann said.

Lewis noted that she has been a member of the Murchison Methodist church, and that her religion has had an absolute impact on her life.

JoAnn Perry, the officer in charge since Ann's departure, said Lewis will be missed.

"She was a great boss," Perry said. "She knew everybody and was a hard worker, I can't think of enough good qualities."

Rickey Williams, postmaster of the Brownsboro Post Office, said he has worked with Ann a great deal over the years.

"She's always been a good neighbor," Williams said, "as far as a Post Office neighbor. She's been supportive and helpful and I will miss her as a fellow postmaster."

Ann said working at the Murchison Post Office has been a wonderful experience for her, and she will remember it.