Arkie McKinney
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) — The longest serving carrier with the United States Postal Service in Tennessee is celebrating 50 years of service Thursday in Oak Ridge.
Arkie McKinney started his career as a part-time flexible clerk in November 1968 (should be 1964). He began delivering mail in 1973.
“It’s not often we celebrate an employee who has served the Postal Service for 50 years,” says Postmaster Clay Hendren.
“A lot has changed over the course of the past 50 years,” according to McKinney. “Stamps were six-cents and there was no Internet. All people got in the mail were First-Class letters and an occasional magazine. There was no such thing as bulk mail and there was no advertising mail.”
McKinney says he still enjoys going to work each morning, “I like everything about my job, especially my customers. And the walking has kept me in good health,” says McKinney, who turned 70 in September.