Campbell's First Filipino Postmaster

The US Postal Service in Campbell has a long and rich history, filled with many firsts.

According to Jeanette Watson's book, Campbell the Orchard City in 1885, Benjamin Campbell was appointed first Campbell Postmaster. In 1895, Louisa Weitzenberg became the first woman postmaster in Campbell. In 1897, Campbell became the first rural route established in the West Coast.

And today, with his large family present Ramon Sanchez became Campbell's first Filipino Postmaster.

"I feel proud, for my family and for myself," says Sanchez, who is one of six siblings in his family. "Campbell is a dynamic community. There are a lot of things going on, its downtown is alive. It's a great city."

Sanchez grew up in San Pablo, in the Philippines and came to the United States in 1984 to join his family. In 1987, he began his postal career as a part time flexible carrier in San Jose.

"My brother and brother-in-law were all working in the postal service," Sanchez says. "They told me it was a good job to get into because it was stable and had good benefits. It was good exercise too."

worked with Sanchez for 13 years and says that the new postmaster is methodical, smooth and very hardworking.

"I'm very proud that he's taking over," Cole says. "As a postmaster, one thing that we like to do is build our legacy. He was the best of all of them (other employees promoted) but he didn't want to leave.

"He's very loyal to the postal service," Cole continues. "He lives and breathes it. And he loves Campbell. It looks like things worked out for him. I'm happy for him because he will probably retire here."

Campbell's postal service is one of the top performing post offices in the Bay Area, says Al Bito, assistant to the Campbell city manager.

"It's one of the few offices that not only have a strong safety record but also one of the few that is profitable," Bito says.

He has known Cole since he first came to Campbell and because Sanchez was "under the tutelage" of Cole, Bito says the position is in good hands.

Sanchez lives in Campbell and enjoys scuba diving, underwater photography, cooking and gardening.

According to the release as Campbell Postmaster, Sanchez will oversee 68 employees who will process and deliver a daily mail volume of more than 85,000 pieces to 22,132 addresses, 33 city routes, one auxiliary route and 3,160 P.O. boxes, six days a week.

"I am glad we chose a good, well-rounded person," says Darrell Stoke, manager of post office operations at the event.