What:

Postal employee set to receive Postmaster General Hero Award

Who:

Gary Powell – Martin Letter Carrier
Omar Coleman – Tennessee District Manager
Anthony McCartney – Martin Postmaster
Justin Holt – Manager of Post Office Operations

When:

Friday, February 24, 2023
8:00 a.m.

Media: Please RSVP to evelina.b.ramirez@usps.gov

Where:

Martin Post Office
100 Academy Circle
Martin, TN 37725

*Guests should enter through the Post Office lobby main doors

Background:

The Postmaster General Hero Award, one of the most prestigious honors for postal employees, is given to those who perform a heroic act above and beyond the call of duty while on the job. Although the heroic event occurred in 2019, Powell is being honored on Feb. 24 to ensure he is formally recognized.

On October 31, 2019, Martin, TN Carrier Gary Powell was walking toward apartments where he delivers mail when he noticed smoke coming from the other side of the building. His first thought was that it was someone who was outside grilling. When he reached the porch, he saw smoke exiting from one of the apartments and flames through the window. He started banging on the adjacent apartment to alert the neighbors before calling 911. Powell knew there was a handicapped elderly lady who lived in the apartment where a fire was burning. When he knocked on her door, he felt the heat on it, so he ran to the side door where he heard the customer calling for help. She was trying to exit the apartment but her wheelchair had become wedged between the door and a cabinet.  Once inside, Powell helped the customer onto her feet and carried her out to a safe distance away where a neighbor tended to her.  However, the customer was crying for her wheelchair, so Powell re-entered the apartment to retrieve it.  The fire department arrived and was able to save the structure with limited damage.  The customer was treated for mild smoke inhalation with full recovery.

Powell has delivered mail to the same neighborhood for 35 years.  After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked in a factory job. However, he wanted to find a career and he knew several people that worked for the Postal Service.  As a Boy Scout, he recalls having conversations with his Scout Master, who was the Postmaster at the Ridgely, TN Post Office.  His father was a former letter carrier at the Union City, TN Post Office.  He knew that being a carrier would be a good job and would make a great career – and he’s been delivering mail ever since.

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