The U.S. Postal Service has nothing on Tom Ackison. In fact, the mail delivery organization could likely learn a thing or two about customer service and dedication from this Lawrence Countian.

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor anything else Mother Nature throws our way has done much to deter the 75-year-old during three decades as a rural newspaper carrier for The Tribune.

But, as is often the case in life, all good things must come to an end.

Ackison tendered his 30-day notice late last month, signaling that he was packing up his rubber bands and paper bags.

He will be missed by the roughly 200 customers he currently serves from Ironton to Hecla and the surrounding areas, many of whom he has served for such a long time.

“Tom truly epitomizes the definition of dedication and customer service, and for the last 30 years, Tom has put his customers first regardless of the situation,” said Josh Morrison, The Tribune’s home delivery manager. “I am truly sad to see this business relationship with Tom end.”

Perhaps better than any other newspaper carrier, Ackison understood what it means to be an independent contractor.

The bottom line is that those who he delivered to aren’t really our customers at all.

They are his.

That is something that makes all the difference in the world. Tom took this to heart and took it as a personal failure if he couldn’t get a paper to one of them.

If someone could be reached, Tom would get them a newspaper.

“The business relationship that The Tribune and Tom Ackison had for the last 30 years has set a standard that not many people will be able to live up to and that standard provides a path that every business person should emulate,” Morrison said.

With his wife Kay at his side for many of those years, and many times in the passenger seat, Tom has pretty much covered all of Lawrence County at one time or another.

As a motor route newspaper carrier, Ackison certainly logged some significant miles with his current route and another that included about 200 subscribers from Ironton to Oak Hill.

Tom will be missed by his customers and leaves some big shoes to fill. Or maybe, in this case, it would be tires to fill.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.