Crystal City letter carrier Gary Slabby has retired, after working almost 36 years for the U.S. Postal Service.
Slabby, 56, of Crystal City said he started working for the Postal Service in 1978 and became a Crystal City letter carrier in 1981.
His last day on the job was March 1. Before that, he had been on the same route for 27 years
“It (the route) covered most of the businesses on Truman Boulevard, and then it started at Sixth Street and went all the way up to Herculaneum. I had Kenner Street and a little bit of the Williamsburg subdivision, Sunridge Trail, Lucas Drive, the apartments on Missouri Avenue and the streets behind the apartments – Riverport, Harbor Pointe, Northview and Center Pointe and Riverbluff.”
Slabby, who grew up in Festus, said he enjoyed delivering mail to the people on that route.
“I love the people; they’re the best people,” he said. “I was blessed. Whoever gets this route is inheriting a great route.”
Slabby said he also enjoyed his co-workers all those years.
“I had great bosses and great co-workers,” he said. “They were fantastic. All the carriers, the clerks, the management, they’re all fantastic.”
His co-workers had a retirement party for him on Feb. 28 at the Festus Post Office. About 40 people were there to celebrate with him.
Slabby said that even though he still “loved” his job, he felt it was time to retire.
“It’s time to get out and enjoy other things,” he said. “You want to leave a job when you still like it.”
In his retirement, Slabby said he plans to spend more time with family and do more community service work.
He is a member of the Festus Church of the Nazarene and serves on its board. He previously served four terms on the Crystal City Board of Education and was a member of the Festus Parks board and the Twin City Little League board.
Slabby said three of his four sons are engaged, so he hopes to soon have grandchildren to spend time with.
