BILSLAND, Rudolph - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Source: Danville Commercial News Sunday 5 Sept 1972

Osgood, Louise M C-N Covington Bureau “Taken into Retirement”

Covington, Ind – for 39 years Rudolph Bilsland has served Covington, first as a village carrier, then as clerk and later as assistant to the postmaster, but always with a sense of humor and deep love of people.  He is taking these same “ingredients for a good life,” into retirement.  “If you don’t like people, if you don’t like to serve people, the post office is no place for you,” Bilsland declared.

He began his postal service career on Sept 15, 1933 when he was hired as village carrier by then postmaster and long-time friend Frost Harden.  “Village carrier was the name as city carrier is now.  You deliver the mail each day to the homes on your route,” Bilsland explained.  “You soon got to know each person on your route … you know the names of their children and of their dogs and you know their habits.  Sometimes you are the only one around when emergencies come up.  I’ve taken lost children by the hand and led them home.  I’ve helped free youngsters from porch railings. I’ve been nipped by the supposedly gentlest dog in town – and the sights I have seen are unprintable and almost unbelievable,” Bilsland stated.

For 10 years he walked the streets of town – delivering letters of happiness and sadness., bringing good news and bad and the ever-present bills.  Military Service – On July 1, 1943 he transferred to clerk in the PO. He continued this until he went into military service Jan 171, 944. His job changed very little while he was in the Army since he was assigned to the Army PO in San Francisco. The work load there was greatly increased, however. More than 6000 people worked there, sorting mail for overseas delivery.

Bilsland returned to Covington and his job after his discharge Feb 6 1946. He was promoted from clerk to assistant postmaster in Sept 1957. Born in Covington 63 years ago, Bilsland decided at an early age he was going to see a lot of this country. He dropped out of school at 15 with a determination to travel and to make his own way in the world. He worked in many places, Florida and Detroit in particular, before returning to complete his education and work in the furniture store owned by his grandfather. Bilsland credits his grandfather,  LH Ellis, with being the greatest influence in his life, both in his numerous hobbies and in his philosophy of life.

When retirement arrives on Sept 15, Bilsland will have no time to sit and watch the world go by. Hobbies that have occupied only moments of spare time will now take first priority.

Always Be Home – Travel – We have been in every state except Maine. There are so many places we would like to go back to but Covington will always be home.  Hunting – When squirrel season comes around I get an itchy trigger finger.  Fishing – Anywhere, anytime is fishing time when the bass are hitting. Fly fishing is my love. That’s where the action is.  Antique furniture – Collecting and refinishing special pieces is fun it gives me something to do. If it is something we really like though not just antique for antique sake.  Coins- “I’ve gotten rid of all my gold coins. They did not appreciate as much as silver.”  All my coins are American and they are all secure in a bank. People who keep valuable collections around their homes these days aren’t very smart in my book.”  Stamps – “Doesn’t this seem like an obvious hobby

For me?  I have all the stamps since I started working here.”  Vying with his numerous hobbies for retirement time will be the four most importanta people in Bilsland’s lif e- his wife, the former Hazel Duncan of Danville whom he married in 1929 and their three childn, Mrs. Brice (Joanne) Miller of La Pass ? Ind; Robert of Terre Haute and Jim in school in Terre Haute. Bilsland has served under four postmasters: Frost Harden, Dan Clem, Frank Youngblood and Basil Niccum.  Glay Abernathy, long-time employee of the post office has been appointed assistant pm to replace Bilsland.