Idyllwild Postmaster Ray Wilson retired on June 1 after becoming Idyllwild’s new postmaster on Sept. 29, 2019.
John Hyatt, communications specialist for the San Diego region of the U.S. Postal Service said, “Prior to being installed in the position in 2019, he [Wilson] served in the position as the acting postmaster. Ray was committed to ensuring that postal customers in Idyllwild received the best service, even when the roads washed out.”
At this time, a new postmaster has not been hired to replace Wilson. Hyatt said, “Retail Clerk Brett Poulain will serve as the officer in charge until the new postmaster is installed.”
Now that Wilson is out of the U.S. Postal Service, Hyatt does not have a way to reach him to find out why he retired only eight months after taking on his postmaster position.
Hyatt assures the community of Idyllwild that it will be in good hands with Poulain at the helm until a new postmaster is hired.
“Idyllwild customers should expect to receive the excellent service they are used to receiving,” Hyatt said.
I interviewed Wilson back on Oct. 21, 2019 about his move to Idyllwild and how he ended up as Idyllwild’s new postmaster. This wasn’t Wilson’s first time working in Idyllwild. He was on a temporary detail from November 2018 through May 2019 before he had to go back to Riverside, but he always enjoyed working here.
“I begged to come back up here,” Wilson said. “So, when I saw this position open up, I jumped on the opportunity. This [position] is serving the customers. Down in Riverside, it’s more political than it is up here.”
When I asked what he anticipated for his future in Idyllwild Wilson said, “I’ll be here for at least three years before I retire. I have a great crew of four, which makes us fully staffed. I hope to be out in the community more to help people with whatever postal needs they might have.”
