Theodosia postmaster Moe retires after 19 years with USPS
This photo of Maurice “Moe” Anna, who has been postmaster at Theodosia for the last 13 years, captures his funny, good-natured spirit. Moe retired from his position on Sept. 30 after working for the USPS for 19 years. The milestone was celebrated with a party thrown by his co-workers at the post office.
Theodosia residents may be missing a familiar face at the local post office, as Friday, Sept. 30 marked the last day of work for beloved postmaster Maurice “Moe” Anna, who retired after 19 years with the United States Postal Service.
“It’s been great. I’ve met a lot of good people working here,” Moe told the Times Friday, explaining that he had gotten to know many customers on a first-name basis and enjoyed visiting with them when they came into the post office for various business.
Moe started his career with the USPS in 2003 by taking a position at Cedar Creek, where he continues to live now, about a 35-minute drive from Theodosia. But Moe’s work history began much earlier than that.
“Before that, I worked for McDonald Restaurants for 30 years. I retired from there in 2001. Then I took two years off,” he said.
Deciding that he’d like to return to the workforce in 2003, he put an application in for the part-time position of post master relief (PMR) at the Cedar Creek Post Office and was offered the job.
That position got his foot in the door, and two years later he was offered the postmaster position at the Reuter post office.
“It was just a little four hour office, open 9 [a.m.] to 1 [p.m.], six days a week. I worked there for two years, and at the start of that second year, I also became walking [post office carrier] routes and inspecting the city carriers,” he said.
In 2007, Moe was named the Theodosia post master, but he was then transferred to Lampe for two years and came back to Theodosia in 2009.
“...and I’ve basically been here ever since.”
In addition to his duties as postmaster, Moe has continued his work walking city routes and inspecting city carriers, as well as training and other administrative types of jobs.
“I’ve been traveling and inspecting both for our district and for [USPS] headquarters. I was a team leader for the district. I can honestly say I’ve probably walked every city route in our district… which now includes the whole state of Missouri and the whole state of Kansas,” Moe said.
After such a long and dedicated career with the USPS, Moe said he’s ready for a change as he looks ahead toward the future.
“I need to do some stuff around my home, and I plan to go see my grandbaby who lives in Virginia. Well, she’s not a baby anymore… she’s 13,” he said, laughing. “I’m looking forward on catching up things I need to around my place and really start this third chapter in my life.”
Moe says Karla Hogan will be serving as the temporary Theodosia post master in his absence.
Although his postal patrons are happy to see Moe doing the things he loves, there’s no doubt that he’ll be remembered as not only a friendly small-town postmaster but also a friend to many who have walked through the doors.