PARLIER, CA — On Saturday, March 28, 2014, Drew Esquer will follow a proud tradition dating back to 1898 when I.N. Parlier served as the first postmaster of the town that bore his name. In an 11:00 a.m. ceremony, Esquer will take the official oath of office as Postmaster of the Parlier Post Office, 850 E. Parlier Avenue, Parlier CA 93648. The oath of office will be administered by Post Office Operations Manager Rodney Romero. 

Esquer began his U.S. Postal Service career in 1988 as a part-time clerk/carrier in Sanger, CA. He had many different positions in Sanger, including distribution and window clerk, Post Office Box clerk and bulk mail clerk. Esquer also carried mail and served as a union shop steward for the American Postal Workers Union. In 2006, Esquer became a Supervisor, Customer Service at the Reedley Post Office. He credits former postmasters Roy Williams, Larry Lee and Cindy Solo-Curl with the encouragement he needed to progress to his current selection as Parlier Postmaster.   

“There were clerks that took me under their wings and carriers who were instrumental in my growth as a carrier. I learned a lot from them,” said Esquer. “Hard work pays off. I want to serve the community and make a difference.”   

Esquer, 46, and his wife, Madlyn, have four children, Andrew, 28, Matt, 17, Chris, 12, and Nicole, 9.  Esquer enjoys outdoor sports — playing ball, golf and fishing. He also enjoys attending his wife’s art shows and listening to his sons playing music. He has coached youth soccer, baseball and softball since 1992. Last year he coached daughter Nicole’s softball team.    

Esquer is involved in his community. He served as a commissioner on the Sanger Parks and Recreation Commission, as PTA President at Madison Elementary School and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Sanger Chamber of Commerce. He is currently serving as the chairperson for the city of Sanger’s Planning Commission. He is also a 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

As Parlier Postmaster, Esquer oversees eight employees who process and deliver daily mail volume of more than 9,500 pieces to 3,774 delivery points (addresses), on 3 city delivery routes, one rural route and 991 Post Office boxes.

History of Parlier

In 1876, the I.N. Parlier family migrated from Springfield, IL, to the present site of Parlier. The family’s name, and city’s namesake, was derived from DeParlier, their French ancestry. The Parlier family’s General Store, Trading Post and Post Office became the center of town. Small, family-run wheat farms were initially cultivated in the area. Wheat soon gave way to grapes, raisins and tree fruit, foods that Parlier continues to produce today for the world food market. Improved irrigation systems and arrival of the railroad helped Parlier establish itself as a hub among surrounding communities.

Incorporated in 1921, the City of Parlier is in Fresno County, CA, nestled in the heart of the fertile San Joaquin Valley and is home to 12,167 residents. Parlier is ideally situated in central California, 210 miles north of Los Angeles and 199 miles south of San Francisco.

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