Cedar Rapids Swears In New Postmaster

By George C. Ford

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jun 4, 2010 at 4:00 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 4, 2010 at 4:00 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - “Postal blue” runs deep in the family of new Cedar Rapids Postmaster Sandra Bolin-Townes.

The 55-year-old Clarksville, Iowa, native was installed as the city’s 27th postmaster Friday in ceremonies at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel. Her father, Neil Bolin, who was postmaster in Clarksville for 28 years, held the Bible as she took her oath of office.

Observing the installation with their children and other family members was Larry Townes, Bolin-Townes’ husband and a retired postmaster.

During the last two years, Bolin-Townes served as operations program analyst at the Western Post Service Area Office in Denver, Colo.

Bolin-Townes said she has enjoyed getting to know employees of the Cedar Rapids post office over the last several months while she served as officer in charge.

“Cedar Rapids is a feisty town,” Bolin-Townes said. “You’re not going to let a little thing like a flood get you down. That’s kind of how I feel about the postal service.

“We have our challenges and we also face a lot of changes coming down the pike. We’re also feisty and we’re not going to let a little thing like the Digital Age get the best of us.

“We’re going to go forward, change and grow. And we’re going to lead the charge from the Cedar Rapids post office.”

Bolin-Townes began her postal career in 1983 in Scotch Grove, Iowa. Over the last 27 years, she has served as a letter carrier, supervisor, postmaster, customer service analyst, manager of postal operations and manager of operations programs support.

Bolin-Townes succeeds Jackie Cook, who left Cedar Rapids to become postmaster in Des Moines.

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