Welcome to a new SweetwaterNOW series, #WHYoming.
We are highlighting people from around our communities and asking them a few questions. We want to learn a little about them and see why they chose this great state to raise their families, start their businesses, or simply to ask — Why Wyoming?
This week I sat down with Earl Christman, a walking route mail carrier in downtown Rock Springs. He has worked as a mail carrier for 21 years. On a typical day, he covers about 13-14 miles on foot.
Earl moved up to Rock Springs in 1995 to start working at the post office where he met his wife who started working at the post office the same time he did.
Earl, what is something unique about you?
I don’t know that there is necessarily anything unique about me. Maybe the fact that I am almost 70 and I still like to work. I thoroughly enjoy going out and working. My Dad retired in his 90s. I guess we were born with the working gene and don’t know when to quit.
.
What first brought you to the area?
I grew up in Casper originally. After I came back from the service, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona to work for Motorola. While I was there, I worked in research on projects that were anywhere from 20-40 years ahead of their time, things that we still don’t have available to us on the market today. During the first really bad crunch, they laid all of the research people off. So, I came back to Wyoming and went to work in the oil field for about 25 years. I worked out of Casper for a while and then went down to Evanston and opened up a business for the company I worked for. I loved Evanston. It was close to skiing and is a pretty community.
My last 5 years in the oil field I had my own company with offices in Montpelier, Idaho, Casper, Wamsutter and Rock Springs.
After that, I started my job with the post office in Rock Srpings.
.
Where is your favorite place to hang out in Sweetwater County?
I enjoy paddle boarding on the Green River up around Seedskadee. It’s beautiful up there.
If you are fortunate enough to find a job you really like, stick with it.”
– Earl Christmann
What do you appreciate most about our community?
It’s changing but the thing I think most people appreciate is that there is still a sense of community. I can go to most of the stores and instead of them treating me like a number or just a customer, they treat me like a friend. It’s warm. We have our problems but it is still really laid back.
.
If you could give one brief piece of advice, what would it be?
If you are fortunate enough to find a job you really like, stick with it. Don’t retire young. I have too many friends that retired young and their life stinks because they don’t have enough money to do anything. If you’re healthy but don’t have any money what are you going to do? You don’t just want to sit there and stare at the wall.
.
Would you rather ride a bike, take a horse or drive a car?
I really like to ride a bike. I don’t do it as much now. When I get home from work, I have had my exercise so my bike isn’t used as much. However, I enjoy riding in the mountains on my bike. I often ride up in the Sheep Creek area.
What would you sing at karaoke night?
I wouldn’t sing a song because they would probably throw eggs and boot me off of the stage. If I had the talent, I’d sing “Stairway to Heaven.” If you’re going to sing in public, you might as well try something challenging.
.
How would your friends describe you?
Probably just laid back. I thoroughly enjoy sitting back and letting everybody else do the talking and simply listening.
var bannersnack_embed = {“hash”:”bxki439pg”,”width”:300,”height”:250,”t”:1471040696,”userId”:21198221,”type”:”html5″};
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My three kids that have all done really well. Most of it has been on their own. My two daughters were psychiatrists but then went back to school because they didn’t feel like it was fulfilling enough. One is now a lawyer, the other is an optometrist. My youngest son, that we thought would never get out of grade school or high school, is into electronic research in Arizona and loving it. I can’t take much credit for their accomplishments. They basically did it on their own.
.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
I’d choose Kris Kristofferson, but I feel like no one will know who that is.
.
Why do you continue to live in Wyoming?
I find this whole area beautiful, but our jobs currently keep me and my wife here. One day we hope to retire to Belize for part of the year and be closer to some good skiing in Utah for the other part of the year.
.
If you’d like us to interview yourself or someone you know for #WHYoming, please send us suggestions to [email protected]
