Postal clerk William Ross Sr.'s retirement marks the end of his 57-year reign of service to Vanderbilt Mail Services at the Station B Post Office. A friendly and familiar face to many around campus, Ross has watched Vanderbilt grow since May 14, 1951.

"He never meets a stranger," said Postmaster Mickey Anglea. "He's just so upbeat and positive all the time, and just a genuine, good man ... full of stories."

Throughout his many years of service, Ross has experienced many changes.

"When he first started here he walked the route with a leather bag. At some point, they got him a bicycle that had racks on it. It's just neat to hear him talk about different things, his progression from walking to a bicycle ... to actually driving a van," Anglea said.

Ross is famed for delivering smiles as well as mail. Anglea said that whenever Ross would meet someone, he would tell them, "Have a great day, and make the best of it!"

In addition to his work at Vanderbilt, Ross also earned a reputation as a magician, even though he said he's only practiced "some sleight of hands and worked with kids." Despite his humility, his hobby has carried him all the way to the small screen. Ross was featured performing magic tricks on "The Bozo Show."

Ross also played the timekeeper at the ballgame in a movie about legendary track star Wilma Rudolph.

On the weekends, he toured the East Coast as part of a gospel-singing group called "The Ross Brothers" along with his cousins.

"He's really sharp and he's really quick ... I'll ask him, ‘Mr. Ross, do you have a quarter?' And he'll pull a quarter right out of a person's ear," Anglea said. "He's done work at the children's hospital and entertained people there at different events and functions."

"Performing for the kids is always a great thrill to me," Ross said in a 1989 article in the Nashville Banner. "I remember one time when I went (to the children's hospital) this boy looked so sad because he was sick. But my tricks had him smiling before long. I said to myself that was the greatest show I had ever done."

To commemorate his retirement, Anglea is compiling a memory book of favorite memories of the campus fixture. Ross is already in possession of some of these memories and has a scrapbook of pictures and letters from his time spent at Vanderbilt.

"I can't count the times you have wished me a good day and told me to make the best of it, and, sure enough, each day seemed better for your advice," said Dirk Porter, associate professor of Slavic languages, in a letter to Ross in 2001.

"William Ross has added a touch of playfulness and magic to Vanderbilt for many years," said Steve Caldwell, associate dean of students, in a letter to Ross. "We are all grateful for the brief return to childhood he has given to all of us."