Alpine postmaster receives top honor by national organization

Longtime Gardnerville resident Margaret Daniels set out to be a flight attendant and even had a job with Continental Airlines before she got married and started her life with Dennis.

What the Markleeville postmaster never expected was to be named postmaster of the year by the National League of Postmasters.

The Daniels arrived in Carson Valley in 1973, fleeing the smog of Los Angeles for the sake of their 4-year-old son Craig's health. Dennis went to work for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and she got a job at Contel.

"Dennis was a policeman in L.A.," she said. "We had friends in Yerington so we decided to come up here."

After a few years at the phone company and a short stint at Bently Nevada, Margaret was hired by Gardnerville Postmaster Dale Bohlman for a part-time position in 1977.

"I worked there for almost 10 years and as things progressed, I ended up running the office in Dale's absence."

She was hired to take over the Markleeville Post Office in 1986 and remembers her first day was Oct. 31, Nevada Day on this side of the state line, but Halloween in California. In those days Northern Nevadan would celebrate Halloween a day early and take the 31st off for the annual parade in Carson City.

"The first day I didn't realize what was going on," she said. "We'd had Halloween the night before. I had to send my husband to the store to buy candy for the trick or treaters."

In the 21 years, since Daniels took over the Markleeville post office she has seen the town's children go from strollers to weddings.

"I've watched the children grow up," she said. "I've seen lots people come and go. People become like family to you."

Margaret received her award on July 27 in Las Vegas. She points out that the national league doesn't represent all the postmasters in the nation, just about 50,000 of them.

"It is quite an honor," she said. "I feel like over the years I've been given some jobs to do, given some chores to do and some responsibilities. I feel that God gave me the strength to do this."

Daniels was named California Postmaster of the Year at the state convention in May, the second time she's received the honor. She said it was the first time in the history of the league that the national postmaster of the year was picked on the first ballot.

"I'm just dumfounded by it," she said. "It says a lot that your peers would think that highly of you."

Daniels said she had 30 years with the post office on June 17, but she's not quite ready for retirement.

"I'm a little more active than a lot of people and I come from a family of long livers," she said. "My father didn't retire until he was 82. I don't think I'll stay quite that long."

Daniels has been a member of the league for 20 years. She has held several positions in the organization. While serving on the national membership committee, she received its highest honor, the MB Morrison Blue Blazer. During her service on the national legislative committee, Daniels traveled to 30 state conventions helping members with issues and raising funds for the political action committee. Daniels also received the First National Spirit Award, The Airlines Advisory Branch Leadership Award and a National Editor's Award for best state convention program.

She served as a Little League coach, and participated in Cub Scout Pack 195, youth soccer, organization committee of the Douglas County Fair Board, founding member of the Douglas County Parent Faculty Club, chaperone for the Douglas County Ski Club, Beta Sigma Phi Laureate Omega chapter, National Association of Retired Federal Employee, Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, California State Fair representative, Friends of the Library, Historical Society and was nominated Alpine Woman of the Year in 2004.

Daniels holds many Postal Philatelic Station events in the Markleeville area and is known internationally for the "Death Ride Station." Postal awards also include many certificates of appreciation, many outstanding merit evaluations, perfect attendance awards, western area award for performance, Nevada Sierra District Snowshoe Thompson Award, Pacific Area Top Performer for years 2005 and 2006.

Daniels survived a bout with cancer 12 years ago. Her husband Dennis ran for sheriff against Jerry Maple in the 1980s and served governors Robert List and Dick Bryan.