Date:
4/11/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Colleen Wright
PORTALES – Long-time United Parcel Service deliveryman John Ortiz Sr. recently turned in his uniform after delivering packages to Eastern New Mexico University for 15 years, and 29 years overall.
"John always carried out his work with a wonderful attitude," Olympia Chino, the department/division secretary for the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and Agriculture, said. "I remember one time he delivered 30 packages here because no one had told him the toy library had moved. Anyone else would have gotten angry at having to move all those boxes again, but not John. A smile never left his face."
Everyone at the University Post Office really appreciated Ortiz's work. "He was always very efficient," manager of the University Post Office commented. "He went to great lengths to make sure that the students got their packages as quickly as possible."
Ortiz was born and raised in Las Vegas, N.M., and graduated from Muleshoe High School. He served in the U.S. Army for three years, went to Vietnam and then signed on with United Parcel Services. Ortiz is married to Rose Lucero, has three children, John, Frankie and Guadalupe, and three grandchildren, Paloma, Sonja and Jarin.
"I have known John for quite a few years now," noted Fabian Lopez, buyer/central receiving for ENMU Purchasing. "He always was great at his job, very understanding and patient, no matter what complications he encountered."
Now that he is retired, Ortiz plans to improve his efficiency at woodwork, travel, golf, and spend time with his family. He is enjoying retirement, but still misses seeing everyone at ENMU.
"The biggest thrill to my job was seeing all of those friendly folks with smiling faces at Eastern," Ortiz said. "Delivering to the University was one of the favorite parts of my job, and really made it worth getting up for work each day. I'm going to miss Eastern."