Story by Jon Stalnaker AKA The Studebaker Dude
I saw a post on Facebook a few days ago with a picture of the Woodrow Wilson School Safety Patrol in Stockton California, class of 65-66. I like looking at the Stockton History page as I see many posts with familiar people and places from the town in which I grew up. Even though this class was 5 years in the future from the time I served the Safety Patrol, it was close enough that I recognized the kid brothers of two of my friends. I posted a picture of the first “attaboy” certificate I ever got. Thanks to my sister Valerie saving it while I was moving around and getting settled in life. I had to get it out to look it over. As it turned out, “attaboy certificates and plaques” became regular accomplishments throughout my working life and I have walls full of them.
My job as a Safety Patrol Assistant was a fun job for a 5th and 6th grader. We were issued a helmet, safety harnesses, raincoats, galoshes, and a real stop sign on a stick. It was an honor to be trusted to get younger students across a busy street and safely to school. I took that seriously, but I must admit, it was a power trip. To be able to stop adult drivers was a big deal for a young kid. We would walk out into the crosswalk and assume the position, holding the signs across our chest. That might sound a bit dangerous at this day and age, but nobody had cell phones back then. The adults in charge were a bit concerned about our safety so they built a sign that could be swung in front of oncoming cars from the sidewalk on the corner. That was much safer. We always worked in teams of three. One for each direction of traffic and a third to escort the little ones (and the pretty girls) across. But we were young and a bit immature. I remember the Cleveland Elementary school bus would always come through. The students on the bus would yell naughty things at us and we didn’t like that. That poor bus driver: we would stop that bus every chance we got. We never got in trouble for it though.
I was always one to volunteer for special assignments and when I had an opportunity to create something new, I always put in more than the minimal effort to get the job done. I was never instructed or taught to do that; it just comes naturally to me. Studebaker had a mantra that states “Always give the customer more than you promised”. I guess that’s another good reason for me to like Studebakers so much. I never sought out the recognition and I never went above and beyond in an effort to get another attaboy, but I did appreciate each and every one I received. I still have them on the walls in my office, the garage, and the upstairs landing. I hang up the ones that mean the most to me or bring back a special memory of a particular assignment. I have a few more that are still in boxes. Those don’t mean as much to me even though the ones from politicians are impressive looking.
As a manager, I liked to give out special awards if an employee was showing something extraordinary in the performance of their job. I had one carrier (Ricky) that wanted to be the best and wanted to impress me with his skills and abilities. One day we had a few absences, and the mail volume was light so he told me he could sort the mail for two routes and carry three. I’m not a fan of fast carriers, the ones that go out and run their routes. I preferred efficient carriers that do it accurately in the least amount of time. There’s a big difference in my book, quality always came first. He promised me he would not drive unsafely or run, he’s just that good. I reluctantly allowed him to do it, so I was out there on street supervision that day to make sure he wasn’t being unsafe. He was being safe even when he didn’t know I was watching him. I was very impressed with his skills and abilities. Opening the cluster mailboxes may seem easy but many carriers struggle with the locks. He walked up to the boxes and just like Fonzie at the Jukebox, they just seemed to open for him. He was a master at his craft, and he accomplished what he said he would do. I even did some random quality checks and found zero errors. Needless to say, he proved his point, and I was very impressed. I made him up a superior productivity award with a plaque to go with it. He really liked that award.
I was assigned to another large office that served two zip codes. As I was going around introducing myself to all the carriers, I met Jody, who jokingly called himself the Mayor of Zone 17. He was a fun, outgoing guy that was also an excellent mail carrier. I made him an official looking award certificate that proclaimed him the Mayor of Zone 17. He put it up on his route case with the biggest smile on his face. I ran into him years later and he told me he still has his cherished certificate. That put a big smile on MY face. Attaboy…
