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January 6, 2006

Beatty postmaster resigns

WIDOW OF JUDGE SULLIVAN PLANS TO TRAVEL

By RICHARD STEPHENS
PVT

RICHARD STEPHENS / PVT
Frances Sullivan receives a plaque and ribbon for her nearly 30 years of service at the United States Postal Service.

An era came to an end Tuesday at the Beatty post office as Postmaster Frances Sullivan turned in her keys and badge. Sullivan, the widow of Judge Bill Sullivan, officially retired on that date just 90 days shy of 30 years.

Sullivan first went to work in the Beatty post office in March of 1975, when a first class stamp cost 10 cents (and gas was selling for about 60 cents a gallon). The cost of a stamp was raised to 13 cents in September of that year.

Francis worked under Postmaster Rene Gibson in the building that now serves as the Death Valley Information Center. She was appointed postmaster to replace Gibson in June of 1980.

In 1987 the post office was moved into the building it now occupies. It was a much nicer facility, but not without its problems. The original heating and cooling unit, which was finally replaced last year, was so noisy that when it came on Sullivan and her clerks would joke that the plane was warming up for take-off.

Sullivan was a good listener who went out of her way to listen to postal patrons’ complaints and help with their problems. Some of those complaints and problems were quite unusual.

One customer, for instance, did not like mail with corners. His family knew of this and always cut the corners off envelopes and postcards they sent. He asked Sullivan for permission to cut the corners off his stamps.

She told him that he could not use defaced stamps, but he insisted he hated corners. She told him maybe he could cut just a little bit off just one corner of the stamp.

Another patron used the post office as a venue for a personal protest against the government, refusing to pick up his mail until a friend was released from prison.

Sullivan describes her career with the post office as "wonderful years - a great trip." She plans to do some traveling, including taking a granddaughter to Hawaii, and to "become more involved in the community, although she says that does not include serving on any boards.

Postal clerks Jan Lasorsa and Carol Stephens, both who declined to apply for the position, will operate the post office, with Lasorsa serving as officer in charge until a new postmaster is appointed.