HOGANSVILLE, GA — As part of the United States Postal Service’s “For the Long Haul” initiative, we are proud to celebrate John Leslie, a dedicated letter carrier who has faithfully served the Hogansville community for over 43 years on the same route. John’s unwavering commitment and exceptional service have made him a beloved figure in the neighborhood he serves.

“For the Long Haul” is an initiative designed to honor the remarkable dedication of long-serving letter carriers like John, who have become integral parts of their communities.  Over the years, John has developed lasting relationships with residents, going above and beyond to ensure their mail is delivered with care and reliability.

John began his career with USPS in 1980 as a city carrier at the Hogansville Post Office, quickly establishing himself as a reliable and friendly presence on his route.  Rain, snow, or shine, John can be counted on to deliver the mail with a smile and a kind word for everyone he meets.  His dedication extends beyond his daily duties; he is known for checking in on elderly residents, volunteering at the youth department as a baseball, basketball, and football coach for children 7 – 19 years of age, and handling sounds and media at his church. He has successfully run his own business, John’s Tax Shop, for 35 years and he still enjoys running his DJ & Entertainment business, Windjammers Ent. on the weekends.

John’s impact on the community is best illustrated through the stories of those he serves.

“With only being the utilities customer service manager for two years, John came into the office with the biggest smile and said, what’s your name because I know you are new,” said city of Hogansville utilities customer service manager Ameia Williams. “And since that day, he has always come into the office with the biggest smile. You can see his smile and hear his laugh from a mile away. John is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. He makes sure that City Hall gets what they need, and if we have any questions, he may not know the answer, but he will find out and get right back with you.  Any chance that he gets, he always shares with us the history of Hogansville and how great the city is.  Thanks for all that you do and congratulations on forty plus years!”

“As a lifelong resident of Hogansville, I have known John Leslie for many years, both through his work as a mail carrier for the Hogansville Post Office and his volunteer work in the community,” said John McKibben. “One memory of John that really stands out was his work as a recreation league basketball coach. My son, Patrick, played basketball about 30 years ago and John was his coach. Patrick was by far the shortest player on the team and, due to my lack of athletic ability, Patrick lacked good knowledge of the intricacies of the sport of basketball. John had great patience and understanding, tried to teach Patrick, and made sure to allow him playing time. Needless to say, Patrick didn’t make it to the NBA, but he had a good experience and it made him want to participate in organized sports (cross country and soccer) in high school.”

“John is an exemplary employee with perfect attendance,” said Hogansville Post Office Officer In Charge Leigh Goodman. “He has great work ethics, positive attitude, and comes to work every day.”

The United States Postal Service has been an essential part of American life since its inception.  Committed to providing reliable, affordable mail service to every address in the country, USPS plays a crucial role in maintaining communication and commerce across the nation.

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