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In 1971, Mrs. Wease Rose celebrated her retirement from Troy State University.

“In November of 1946, I began this job with no idea of whether I would work a day, a week, or a month,” Mrs. Wease Rose commented as she left her post at Troy State University this week.

Mrs. Rose has served as postmaster at the University post office for almost 25 years.   She commented that she had thoroughly enjoyed her work with and for the students.

“When I first began work, there were not many students I could not call by name.  Then, all of a sudden, enrollment began expanding rapidly, and now there are many I recognize by face only and some I do not know at all.”

When Mrs. Rose began work, it was against the advice of her doctor.  He did not feel that she would be strong enough to withstand the pressures and work.  “Instead of being harmful, I feel that my job has helped me maintain my health and aided me in keeping a youthful outlook on life.”

The post office contained about 65-70 mailboxes when Mrs. Rose took the position.  Most of these were claimed by faculty members leaving only general delivery available for students.

Since then, the post office has moved from the quarters it shared with the bookstore and canteen in Bibb Graves Hall to spacious quarters in Smith Hall, separate from the student center and bookstore.

Student workers were added to the post office shortly after Mrs. Rose began her tasks.  Two of her first student workers were Bill All, now an Optometrist in Troy, and Haskell Locklar, now a doctor in Florida.

Among the changes Mrs. Rose noted were the increased enrollment, more cars driven by students, additional buildings, and the dedication of students.

“They were just finishing McCartha Hall when I first came,” she noted.  “The only other buildings on campus then were Bibb Graves, Shackelford, Pace, Cowart, and maybe Wright Hall.  The others have been built since as the increased enrollment demanded.”

     Dr. L. D. Bynum was the business manager, and  Dr. C. B. Smith was president of the institution when Mrs. Rose began her tenure.

     In speaking of student attitudes, Mrs. Rose commented, “Students now seem more dedicated to learning than in the past. Of course, there is always one of two who give all the others a bad name.  But for the most part, we have a good alert student body.”

     Before beginning work, Mrs. Rose had been a housewife and mother.  She and her husband, Hubert, have two sons, Jimmy and Bill.

     Future plans call for “just being real, real lazy.  This includes being a better neighbor, working in flowers, and going fishing.”

     “I may not have had the most important job on campus, but to me, it was the most enjoyable, and I will miss it.  I will keep in touch with the many friends I made here and am looking forward to being able to spend ore time with them.”

     Mrs. Rose told of a call she received from one of her former student workers on Monday after Mother’s Day.  Billy Justice called to wish her a belated Mother’s Day and to see how she was doing.  “He said he forgot to call on Mother’s Day and just had to call the next day.”

     All of these articles can be found in previous editions of The Troy Messenger.  Stay tuned for more.  Dianne Smith is the President of the Pike County Historical, Genealogical and Preservation Society.