|
David Lynch took over as the new postmaster for the Eagle River Post Office in February. He replaced longtime postmaster Steve Reed, who was promoted to a position in the Alaska distribution post office in Anchorage.
Star Photo By DARRELL L. BREESE
|
The new smiling face behind the counter at the Eagle River Post Office is David Lynch.
Lynch took over as new postmaster for Eagle River in February, replacing Steve Reed, who accepted a new position within the U.S. Postal Service as a post office operations manager, responsible for the oversight of postal stations throughout the state.
A former U.S. Marine, Lynch and his wife came to Alaska from Minnesota.
“After I was out of the Marines, I took the postal employee's test and scored pretty high, 98,” he said. “But I was in a small town and no one was leaving the post office, so there were no job openings.”
That was in 1989. For the next six years Lynch worked multiple jobs.
“I started at factory making maybe $5 an hour,” he said. “I stayed there for a little while, but eventually kept changing jobs for better pay, until I got hired on with the post office in 1995.”
He was promoted through the ranks, eventually working at the St. Paul, Minn., distribution center.
But that wasn't enough for the 44-year-old postal worker. So he convinced his wife that he would start seeking a new position somewhere, either near the mountains or the ocean.
“That's when I first came to Alaska,” he said. “They were looking for a manager for the Lake Otis post office, and I flew up for an interview. I didn't get that job but was told of another position in Anchorage that was going to be open soon.”
Lynch was back in Alaska again, and he was eventually hired to be the manager of the Huffman station.
“I had to convince my wife that moving to Alaska was a good idea,” he said. “Surprisingly, she was willing, and we moved up as soon as we could.”
The desire he had to work close to the mountains is part of what led him to apply for the opening at the Eagle River Post Office when Reed moved to the Anchorage district office.
“It doesn't get any better than living here, as far as I'm concerned,” he said. “I go hiking and rock climbing whenever I get a chance.”
Getting closer to the mountains has also led Lynch and his wife to sell their home in Anchorage and plan a move to Eagle River.
“We just completed the home inspection on our new home yesterday (April 22),” he said. “I enjoy working at smaller stations like Eagle River, because there is a sense of family and community. My wife and I look forward to living out here and getting to know the people of Eagle River.”
As postmaster for the Eagle River station, Lynch is responsible for what he described as “simply moving the mail.”
“The big thing is managing the people and the budget,” he said. “Making sure all the routes are covered and the mail gets delivered.”
Dealing with express mail has been the biggest adjustment for Lynch since moving to Alaska.
“Everything has to be flown up here and then delivered to the various stations,” he said. “That could mean we don't get next day express packages until 1 p.m., and they have to be delivered by 3 p.m. I'm still getting used to that.”
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
