Grayslake Postmaster to Retire After 34 Years

After more than three decades with the United States Postal Service, Grayslake's Postmaster Jim Bailey said it's time to retire.

Bailey accepted an incentive program to encourage early retirement and will retire from his post July 31. He joins Postmasters from several other local communities taking advantage of the program.

"It's been a good run, but I'm ready," Bailey said.

Bailey began with the Postal Service in 1968. He said in that time so many things have changed, yet stayed the same.

"Much of our equipment is the same, or so similar to what we had when I started here," he said. "But what has really made the big difference is the computer age."

"The quantity of mail has really slowed down," Bailey told Patch mostly because so many people pay their bills online. "However, we still see a lot of people sending cards, especially around the holidays, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day."

Bailey signed on as Grayslake's Postmaster 13 years ago. In that time he guided the relocation of the Post Office to its current location, stating that the new site that opened ten years ago, was such a boost for the area.

Bailey said he is looking forward to spending time on his hobby of woodworking. He said he will miss his employees and the customers of the Post Office.

"The customers here have been outstanding," Bailey said. "They have been so supportive, cooperative and friendly. And the employees do such a great job here. They really care about their customers."

Bailey joins several other Postmasters in the area who are taking the incentive to retire early, including those from Highwood, Lake Bluff, North Chicago, Antioch, Zion and Mundelein.

To read more about those employees, .