Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1:10 AM CDT
Mail carrier honored for quick actions as house was on fire
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Like many mail carriers, Larry Hudson knows “his people” on the delivery route.
“I pretty much know a lot about the people on my routes,” said Hudson, walking swiftly along Rudy Avenue on Friday morning with letters in hand. “It kind of comes with the job.”
On Tuesday, July 10, Hudson noticed something out of place at one house on Annis Avenue. He spotted a haze by the house. Then, he realized Millie Rea’s door was not open.
In moments, Hudson called 911 and tried to save Rea, but the door was locked. She was eventually rescued from the burning home by Mattoon firefighters, who arrived quickly after the emergency call.
“He helped get the word to us real quick. That fire was really spreading and we would have never had a chance getting to her if he hadn’t called when he did,” said fire Chief Mike Chism.
But this story’s ending is not as happy as it could be. The 87-year-old widow died Thursday night from complications caused by smoke inhalation.
“That makes it bittersweet for me,” said Hudson, who on Friday had not yet heard his former customer had died. “I wish I had got there sooner. I keep thinking about it.”
Though Hudson had some doubts about his actions, his co-workers had no doubt he deserved recognition for his efforts last week. So Hudson, a veteran of the U.S. Postal Service for 23 years, will soon receive an employee award and certificate for going beyond his regular duty to help someone.
“We want to recognize our employees for taking care of their customers and looking out for them,” said Kyle Browning, a supervisor at the Mattoon Post Office.
Hudson has worked the south side route for four years along Rudy, Annis and other streets. For more than a decade, he worked a route in north-central Mattoon, and residents there became like kin to him.
“Some of them get like family to you. Some of them move away and you miss them.”
Hudson said he and other mail carriers look out for the elderly, especially those disabled like Mrs. Rea.
“She used to be sitting there near the door watching sports on TV. My nephew, Kyle, plays for Illinois so I would check on a score with her. When I came to the house Tuesday, I realized something was wrong.”
Hudson appreciates the recognition from his employer, but noted Mattoon firefighters and police also deserve praise for their efforts that day. He added a man who never shared his name Tuesday also assisted him in trying to rescue Mrs. Rea.
“I’m not really a hero. I would hope anybody would have done the same thing,” he said.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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Why Not wrote on Jul 17, 2007 5:37 PM: