Gary Richardson has a father-in-law to thank for his career with the United States Postal Service.
Richardson, who retires Feb. 20 from his position as Postmaster for the Lake Orion Post Office, said his father-in-law was a rural postal carrier in Rockford, Michigan, and told Richardson he’d need a job if he planned on marrying his daughter.
‘I guess I have my father-in-law to thank,? joked Richardson, who has worked for the postal service for 34 years after starting out as a city carrier in Pontiac.
Richardson became supervisor in Pontiac before moving on to the Lake Orion Post Office in 1980 as Superintendent of Postal Operations, before being named Postmaster in 1983.
‘I coordinate and make sure everyone’s pushing in the same direction, kind of like a school principal,? Richardson explained.
‘When I came here, Lake Orion had seven city routes and five rural. Now there are 13 city and 15 rural. It’s tripled in size,? he said.
Richardson said a lot more is done on computer and by machine than was when he first began working at the post office.
‘There’s a lot more automation,? he said.
Richardson was born and raised in Pontiac and has called Oxford home since 1979. He has two step-sons and two grandchildren.
‘I’m going to play golf and spend a lot of time with my grandkids,? he said. ‘I also have an 85-year-old mother who could certainly use some help.?
Richardson is also a baseball fan, and he plans on attending a lot more Detroit Tigers games.
‘I’m going to stay in Oxford though,? he said. ‘I plan on stopping in at the post office…and they will probably stop by and see me.?
Richardson said he will miss his co-workers and giving tours to school children.
‘The employees have been terrific,? he said. ‘And I enjoyed working with the schools.?
Richardson said Ted Banks, the Rochester Postmaster, will be coming to Lake Orion to serve as postmaster here until a permanent replacement is found. Banks will serve for a couple of months while the position is bid out.