Created: 11/18/2008 8:59:53 PM 
Colfax, NC -- The U.S. Postal Service will recognize its very own hero, Rural Carrier Associate Charles "Tony" Hood, for his extraordinary efforts in saving a Colfax man's life recently.
The ceremony will take place at Colfax Post Office, 9052 W. Market Street on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.
Hood, a resident of Kernersville, was delivering mail on September 11, 2008 and handed mail to one of his customers on one side of the street.
Several minutes later, Hood began delivering mail on the other side of the street and passed the same house when he saw that same customer, this time, lying in a ditch outside his home.
Hood jumped out of his vehicle, placed the man in his vehicle and drove him to the nearest Fire/Emergency Medical Service (EMS) station, about 1.5 miles away, to get immediate assistance.
Once paramedics had the man securely, Hood returned to complete his route.
Later that day, Colfax Postmaster Andy Parker received a call from the Roger Frazier, Colfax Fire Chief. He told Parker that the man Hood brought to the station, Colfax resident Dan Marshall, had suffered a stroke, which caused him to fall into the ditch.
Hood's actions in getting him to medical attention so quickly very well may have saved the man's life.
"We expect our carrier's to do their jobs well, and they usually take pride in doing so," says Parker. "What Tony did goes beyond what they should do, yet we still expect them to do it anyway. I'm thrilled Mr. Hood was able to be there for his customer, and he is truly a credit to the U.S. Postal Service."
At the ceremony, Hood and Parker will be joined by Marshall, the man who was saved; Frazier, the Fire Chief; Russell Gardner, Lead Executive, U.S. Postal Service; and additional postal and civic officials.
