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The Postman's Infectious Smile
JIM LOONEY

Most everyone in town knows him and he knows most everyone in town. He knows them by name and by post office box.

“Quite a few numbers I know by heart,” he says chuckling. “Maybe that’s my gift, I remember things like that.”

Commonly referred to as Jim from the post office, the 51-year-old postal employee really does have a last name. “No one knows it, actually they had it as a trivia question once on KOTO,” he says. “It’s Looney. I know, sounds sort of funny. It’s Irish, used to be O’Looney.”

Jim began working at the Telluride Post Office about six years ago and since then, picking up mail and buying stamps has never been the same. The genuine and jolly fellow makes a point of saying hello to everyone, sincerely wanting to know how they are and what they’re up to.

“A bad day? No, really, I never have them,” says Jim. “Something about driving into town everyday gives me this certain high. Nothing can ruin that.”

Jim and his wife Karen, of 30 years, have resided in Montrose for almost a decade. Karen is the assistant manager at the Holiday Inn and Jim commutes to Telluride five days a week. Originally from Iowa, Jim grew up, worked and raised his children (Lance, Kam and Klare) on a dairy farm.

“It was hard to leave my hometown,” he says. “I didn’t think I’d find that comfortable sense of community again, but I have in Telluride. I love my job and I love this community.”

Once the kids went off to college, Jim and Karen opted for a change. They had honeymooned in Colorado and decided Montrose was the perfect place to start new lives. Jim began driving the mail truck to Telluride and three years later, took the postal exam and was hired in town.

When not behind his desk, decorated with a colorful wall of local faces, Jim pursues his ultimate passion, running. “In Iowa I was 215 pounds, a fat farm boy,” the slender guy admits. “When I used to drive the truck to Telluride, I’d see all these healthy people out running. That inspired me.”

Jim gets out for a jaunt about every day. He also hikes in the summer and climbing Mount Sneffels is one of his favorites things to do.

“I don’t need much variety. I know what I love,” he says. “I’ve been up Tomboy almost every day this year, trying to stay in shape for the big race.” The big race is the Imogene Pass Run, of which he and Karen are veteran participants. Last summer Jim got his best time yet, 3:58:39. “I just wanted to break four hours, that was my goal.”

As for future goals, Jim’s looking forward to grandchildren, hopes to run a few marathons and wants to stay as fit and healthy as possible. Of course, his future includes maintaining his many Telluride friendships, too.

“They call me the nicest guy in Telluride. That’s a hard reputation to live up to,” says Jim. Judging by the grin on his face, he doesn’t seem too concerned, only flattered.