Dave Gray, a longtime post office worker in the area, retired on Wednesday. (Photo Source: Timothy A. Bennett/Owner & Publisher of The Cortland Voice).
A familiar face at the local post office front desk is taking a new journey.
Dave Gray, a window/distribution clerk and carrier between the Homer and Cortland post offices for the past 29 years, officially retired on Wednesday.
Gray was born and raised in Homer, and graduated from Homer High School. Following graduation, he worked at Mohawk Valley Oil for 10 years, before going into his long post office career.
Gray worked at the post office on South Main Street in Homer for 18 years.
“It was perfect. I walked to work and I knew everybody who walked in the door,” he said.
Working for the post office in Homer gave Gray the ability to be a window clerk and a mail carrier.
“Back then you could both work inside at the window, but you could also carry mail,” he said.
After Homer, Gray was transferred to the post office on Main Street in Cortland. He worked there for 11 years as a window/distribution clerk.
In his almost 30 years at the post office, Gray saw a lot of different faces. It’s something he’ll miss the most as he enters retirement.
“I’ll miss seeing all the different people that come in, and socializing all day long because that’s pretty much what I do,” he said.
Gray plans to be a “snowbird” in retirement. He’ll live in New York for the spring and summer seasons, then move to North Carolina for the winter season.
“Thank you to everybody for being so kind and fun to be with,” Gray said of his time at the post office. “It’s been a good ride and I’m looking forward to whatever the future brings.”
