Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, sorts mail to be delivered at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- David Magee has delivered mail to thousands across Washtenaw County for nearly half a century with the United States Postal Service.

With almost 50 years of Christmas deliveries under his belt, he is turning in the keys to his Grumman LLV mail truck on Jan. 1, 2019.

Magee began his career with the postal service after a tour in Vietnam with the U.S. Army 173rd Infantry Brigade.

He's worked five delivery routes in the course of his career. Most notably, Magee remembers when his route intersected with his family home. His kids would patiently await the arrival of their father during his lunch break.

Somewhat of an eclectic, Magee's postal attire from his early days hangs atop one of the parcel crates surrounding his cubicle at the Ann Arbor Post Office on Stadium Boulevard.

Not to mention the standard-issue ash tray that clips on to his original canvas delivery bag.

"Oh that," he said, clipping the ashtray to the counter. "That comes from the days when anyone would smoke."

Magee's career with the Ann Arbor Post Office dates back to a time when a mail carrier's pay was just more than $8,000 a year. He still keeps the W-2 from his first year on the job.

With just a few weeks left on the USPS payroll, Magee is handling the rest of the 2018 holiday season behind the wheel.

He will have his hands full.

According the postal service, Dec. 17 through Dec. 23 is the busiest time of year for deliveries. Workers expect to deliver more than 200,000 million packages and 3 billion letters worldwide by week's end.

Though he's retiring, Magee says he's not done working. He plans to keep himself busy with odd jobs and part-time jobs locally.

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee's original postal work attire hung outside his cubicle at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee's calendar counts down the days before his retirement from the postal service at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

A pin commemorating David Magee's 50 years of service at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee prepares his truck for the delivery route at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee's first W-2 from 1970 sits inside his cubicle at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

A photo of David Magee during his time in Vietnam with the 173rd Calvary at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares to leave the post office for his daily delivery route, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, sorts mail to be delivered at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

A personal letter from Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan commemorating David Magee on 50 years of service at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

Pins show David Magee's years of service at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, chats with fellow employees before his daily delivery route at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee's hat decorated with numerous from his time as a postal worker at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)

Don't Edit

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Ben Allan Smith | bsmith@mlive.com

David Magee, a postal worker of 50 years, prepares parcels for delivery at the USPS post office, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 in Ann Arbor. Magee has been working for the post office since 1971 and will retire on Jan. 1 of 2019. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)