Famous Postal Workers

Most people know that Benjamin Franklin worked for the Postal Service, but did you know that Bing Crosby and Walt Disney did too? For most of the people on this list, postal work came before fame. A few — like Fred Lindstrom and Harry Hooper — were famous first. Twelve of these individuals have also been commemorated on U.S. postage stamps. Their names are marked with an asterisk.*   

Name	Fame	Postal Work	
John Brown	Abolitionist	Postmaster, Randolph, PA; 1828–1835	
Charles Bukowski	Poet, novelist, screenwriter	Clerk, Los Angeles, CA; 1950s–60s	
Steve Carell	Actor, comedian	Rural letter carrier, Littleton, MA; 1985	
Anthony Comstock	Anti-vice crusader	Special Agent/Postal Inspector; 1873–1915	
Bing Crosby*	Singer, actor	Substitute and regular clerk, Spokane, WA; 1921	
Walt Disney*	Film producer, theme park creator	Substitute carrier, Chicago, IL, and 
Christmas temporary, Kansas City, MO; 1918, 1919	
William Faulkner*	Novelist	Acting Postmaster and Postmaster, University, MS; 1921–1924	
Benjamin Franklin*	Statesman, inventor, printer	Postmaster General, 1775–1776
(served under the British as Postmaster of Philadelphia from 1737 to 1753, and as joint Postmaster General from 1753 to 1774)	
Sherman Hemsley	Actor	Clerk, Philadelphia, PA, and New York, NY; 1960s	
Conrad Hilton	Hotel magnate	Postmaster, San Antonio, NM; 1910–1911	
Harry Hooper	Baseball Hall-of-Famer	Acting Postmaster and Postmaster, Capitola, CA; 1933–1957	
Brittany Howard	Singer, Alabama Shakes	Rural carrier assistant, Athens, AL; 2011	
Rock Hudson	Actor	Substitute letter carrier, Winnetka, IL; ca. 1947	
Sidney Lanier*	Poet	Clerk, Macon, GA; ca. 1858	
Abraham Lincoln*	U.S. President	Postmaster, New Salem, IL; 1833–1836	
Charles Lindbergh*	Aviator	Airmail pilot; 1926–1927	
Fred C. Lindstrom	Baseball Hall-of-Famer	Acting Postmaster, Postmaster, and Officer-In-Charge, 
Evanston, IL; 1961–1972	
Samuel F. B. Morse	Inventor	Superintendent, Telegraph Unit; 1845–1846	
John Prine	Singer, songwriter	Letter carrier, Maywood, IL; 1964–1969	
Knute Rockne*	Football coach	Substitute and regular clerk, Chicago, IL; 1907–1910	
Adlai E. Stevenson	U.S. Vice President	First Assistant Postmaster General; 1885–1889	
Harry S. Truman*	U.S. President	Postmaster, Grandview, MO; 1914–1915	
John Wanamaker	Department store magnate	Postmaster General; 1889–1893	
Noah Webster*	Lexicographer	Special agent; 1793	
Hal Williams	Actor	Clerk, Los Angeles, CA; 1968–70s	
Richard Wright*	Author	Substitute clerk, Chicago, IL; 1929–1932	
N.C. Wyeth*	Painter	Mail carrier, Fort Defiance, AZ, to Crozier, NM; 1904	

Richard Wright stamp issued April 9, 2009
Wright worked at the Chicago Post Office before moving to New York City and achieving success as an author.

HISTORIAN
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
SEPTEMBER 2017