The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-05-27
HORACE HAROLD, RETIRED

HORAIE dAROLD, ne EllRED
Friday evening was one unique IN
the records of the Ocala postoffice. 1t
has fifteen employees, and for the
first time they were all together. The
event that brought this happy gather
ing was the retirement from active
service of Mr.. Horace Harold.
Mr. Harold has been in the postal
service for thirty-two years. He en-
tered the Ocala postoffice as clerk in
1890 When Ocala was given delivery
| by carrier, he took the first route, and
has carried it for twenty years. His
has become the most familiar face In
large section of the city. Every
morning and afternoon for a score of
years his coming has been anxiously
looked for by the thousands of people
on his route. No man has brought so
much of human interest into the
homes of his friends as he. Now he
has an honorable discharge on part
pay, and may he live long to enjoy
his we'll earned rest.
At nine o'clock Friday night, Mr..
Harold, his fellow employees and a
few other friends gathered at David
sons union station restaurant.
"Shorty" was in his usual form, and
a long table well decorated with food
was tastefully arranged for the occas-
ion Postmaster Rogers presided. He
asked the divine blessing and then all
sat down to the groaning board. Pres
ent were Postmaster Rogers, who sat
at the head of the table with Mr..
Harold at his left hand. At the other
end of the table sat eX-Postmaster
Geo. K. Robinson, with whom Mr..
Harold commenced his work thirty
| two years ago. At Mr.. Robinson's S
right sat Mr.. B. F. Borden, for many
tyears assistant postmaster, and to his
left was Judge David S. Williams,
who was Mr.. Robinson's assistant
postmaster. Lined up along the sides
of the table were Messrs. A. P. Gil
more, T. M. Moore, II. L. Booher, G.
lC Woods, W. A. Altman, T. c. Thorn
Isen, D. S. Smith Jr, H. W. Massie,
u. L. Leitner, G. H. Howell and Arthur
Burgess. A Star man was also present.
The supper was large and satisfy
ling. The reporter made an attempt
to list the menu but failed. He can
jcertify that he ate a fruit cocktail
+broa p;oooc Of frioJ obioloo copoo rio
begged in gravy, two biscuit with but.
ter, some salad, couple of chunks
out of a crisp, firm head of lettuce
three-quarters of big tomato ane
some other things. He also poured 8
cup of coffee in between the chinks
!; By that time his stomach had pushed
him back from the table, so when the
ice cream and cake came along he hac
to hold them on his lap. The reporter
was at a disadvantage, having eater
another supper about three hours pre-
viously. The other guests were bet
I ter able to do justice to the spread
: With all that, there was enough friet
l chicken left over to feed half dozer
J preachers.
{ All having eaten until hunger hat
: ceased to be even a memory, chairs
= were pushed back, cigars lit and (
feast of reason succeeded the feas
of food. Postmaster Rogers made {
= brief speech, testifying to Mr.. Har
old's worth, and called on his othe,
1 friends in succession to express thei
= sentiments. He was answered first b!
{ Mr.. Robinson and second by Judg'
f cept two or three too bashful T.
n speak, made brief talks full of goot
d will for their veteran friend an
j helper. At the close of the speeches
e Postmaster Rogers arose again an
e with few feeling sentences presente
S to Mr.. Harold, as a testimonial from
s his friends, a handsome briar roo
n pipe, an article which Mr.. Harold ca
d fully appreciate.
= Mr.. Harold came very near bein
n overcome by the expressions of friend
e ship and appreciation so freely show
n cred upon him by his friends. He re
It piled in talk full of feeling and goo
e will for those with whom he had bee
n associated in his life work.
n Mr.. Harold is the first man to b
n retired from the Ocala postofic'
ID Since he has been in it he has seen
grow from a small room in one corne
e of the Merchants block to the big fet
eral building, its quarters in whic
are even now none too large. He hs
IF seen its force triple and its busine:
IS quadruple, if not more. In the growt
re of Ocala Mr.. Harold has been no sma
/ factor. He has been one of the stead
steppers in the ranks who may mo7
to at footpace, but who never know T
es treat. He has the confidence and Il
. best wishes of the entire city 4
E L l.