“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — While it has never been officially recognized as the motto of the U.S. Postal Service, the above saying, which is posted on New York’s James Farley Post Office, is probably the most recognized association with the national delivery system.

For more than 40 years, it’s something that Charles Tucker has taken to heart.

Tucker, who is set to retire from his position as postmaster at the Robertsdale Post Office June 3, began his postal career while in college at Florida State University.

“I started working part-time as a postal clerk in Tallahassee,” Tucker said. That was 42 years ago.

After two years in the private sector, Tucker moved to Mobile and began working with the postal center.

In 1993, he became postmaster of the Robertsdale Post Office and has been there ever since.

“I have been really blessed to have been a part of this community,” Tucker said. “There are a lot of good people here.”

Just five years after taking the job as postmaster in Robertsdale, Tucker and his wife Angela faced tragedy when their son Justin, a student at Foley High School, was killed in a boating accident.

“The community was very supportive during that time,” he said, “and it will always be greatly appreciated.”

Tucker said one of the things he is most proud of is getting the new postal facility built in Robertsdale, which opened on U.S. Highway 90 in 2001.

“We started out with nine employees and four routes,” he said, “and have grown to 19 employees with 10 routes. Robertsdale is family.”

Tucker said he is looking forward to spending more time with his own family, including his wife, and daughter Erin, who teaches at Just 4 Charter School in Mobile. While technically Tucker’s last day is June 3, his last day on the job was May 27, taking his final week as vacation before beginning his official retirement.

Tucker said Kenny Laurendine will act as postmaster in Robertsdale until a replacement can be hired. The job will be posted on the Postal Service’s national website and qualified applicants will be able to bid on the position.