Local woman named Gallup postmaster

New Gallup Postmaster Thelma Malone peers out of a Postal LLV, or Long Life Vehicle, at the Gallup Postal Carrier Annex on Tuesday afternoon. Malone has been working for the U.S. Postal Service for the past 24 years. She is originally from Piñon, Ariz., and is the first Navajo postmaster for Gallup. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — Thelma Malone was still in high school when she figured that taking a test to qualify for a position with the United States Postal Service would be much better than going to class all day.

Her mom told her that testing for positions with the USPS was taking place in Farmington. A student at Ganado High School at the time, the test presented itself as a perfect opportunity to get out of town for a bit.

"I said what a great way to get out of school," Malone recalls, laughing.

Little did she know that the test would be the start of a successful career with the USPS. She passed the test with flying colors, and began as a clerk after graduation. She eventually was promoted to carrier, and then supervisor before she successfully applied for the postmaster position last month.

That was over 24 years ago, but Wednesday morning, Malone made a bit of history, becoming the first Navajo female to be sworn in as postmaster at the Gallup USPS.

The event was particularly special for Malone because her mother is a retired postmaster.

"She's proud of me," Malone said. Malone's mother was a postmaster in Pion, Ariz., where Malone was born and raised.

As postmaster, Malone is responsible for overseeing entire operations, and ensuring that mail is properly sorted from 40 offices across the Navajo and Zuni reservation. She will manage Gallup's centralized mail distribution center and establish letter carrier routes.

Her title of postmaster was given to her on June 9, but the swearing in ceremony made it official.

"I've been nervous all day," said an elated Malone.

Postal service officials statewide, as well as friends and family of Malone attended the ceremony. As the day winded down, co-workers shouted out a quick "congratulations", and shared how happy they were for her.

For Malone, the most rewarding part of her job is knowing that they're carrying out a special task each day when deliver people their mail.

"We're handling a lot of stuff for them," said Malone. "And the customers acknowledge that we're doing a good job."