Eagle Carrier Proves a Frequent Friend in Need' to his Customers
by Maurine Bergland, Hays Daily News
     Leroy Carley, newspaper distributor of Hays, Kan. challenges the safety records of the Kansas Highway Commission. In the 70,000 miles which he travels each year (1,830,000 miles in the 26 years he has been carrying newspapers), Carley has had only one accident, which was listed as chargeable.
     Lee, as he is known by most of the people in the community, cycled his way into the newspaper business when he became a substitute carrier in the summer of 1928. He bought a newspaper route in March of 29 and in the next few years wore out three bicycles while carrying the news.
     In the early 30s Carley traded his bicycle for a second-hand Model T. Reaching into the box, which had replaced the trunk of the car, he would grip a folded paper and heave it, with practiced aim, into the yard of a Wichita Eagle subscriber.
     After about a year this car was traded for another Model T, which in turn gave way to a second-hand Model A. In 1934 Carley purchased his first new car. From then on he traded cars about every six years. Tires were replaced every 25,000 miles and, if the body of the car still was in good condition, a new motor was put under the hood at 90,000 miles.
     Has Two Trucks. In 1936 Lee purchased a second car to be used in case of emergencies. At the present time he has two trucks and a passenger car. The trucks are used entirely for deliveries and the car for family transportation and collection purposes.
     Fortunately for the people of this Midwest community, Carley decided to make a success of this business in spite of all difficulties. He did not let blizzards, tornadoes, floods or dust storms delay the deliveries much. As the years and children in his family increased, the paper business began to branch and grow. Now five children, two grandchildren and 26 years later, Carley distributes The Wichita Eagle and the Hays Daily News to the four corners of this town and surrounding community.
     In the middle of the night Lee meets the train to pick up papers, and then he returns to bed for several hours' sleep before he delivers The Eagle. At 4 in the afternoon, after he has made his "big" paper deliveries in the city of Hays, he loads the papers into his truck and drives to Plainville, Zurich, Palco, Damar, Bogue, Hill City and Stockton before he points the radiator homeward.
     Braved Dust, Flood. In the spring of 35, when the "black blizzards" swept across the dry fields of the Midwest, Carley drove the 153-mile round trip with sand pitting the windshield and visibility near zero.
     She called Carley for help. Without delay Lee loaded his truck, picked up the "seat covers" and reached the baby with the necessary change by the time it was needed. College students too "broke" to afford a bus ticket home, often hitch a ride with the carrier. Sitting stride the piles of papers, they fold the entire lot in payment for the ride.
     Many a salesman has sent his company report to Hays with Carley. Because of the lack of any north-south rail connection in this area this system frequently is used to speed the letters on their way.
     It is not at all unusual to see half a beef reclining beside the daily news. Often milk, bread and wedding flowers become truck mates on their way to satisfy the needs of hungry children and happy brides.
     There have been a great many demands on this news carrier over the last quarter of a century, but one of the most frequent is that he place their paper between the screen and the door . . . "and don't step on the lawn."
     Several evenings, just as dusk and accidents were coming on, Lee has been the first to arrive upon the scene of a "crash." He has taken the injured, often stretched unconscious upon the floor of his truck, to a hospital.
     Carley has proved that this business of satisfying a customer and getting the news on the road is no small enterprise and can become "big business" if taken seriously.

Dear Mr. Carley:
     We want to extend to your our sincere appreciation for the care and interest you have shown in The Star route for the last forty-one years. We will certainly miss you as a distributor, but know that it is best for your health to give up the agency.
     I am enclosing an application form and also a contract for the agency at Hays. This contract carries the same rate you have 45.3› for a full subscription, 35.3› for a split subscription and the extra copy rate of 4› on the daily and 15› on the Sunday.
     The bills are rendered weekly and there is no deposit on the route at the present time. If Mr. Glassman secures surety signers it will not be necessary for him to place a deposit with us. If he would rather not get the surety signers it would be necessary that he have a cash deposit up with The Star for the amount of $400.00. This amount covers approximately one months paper bill.
     If Mr. Glassman decides he would rather place a deposit he can send us U.S. Coupon Bonds non registered or deposit the amount of cash with us or place the $400.00 in The Star Credit Union. The Credit Union would then apply to this amount the accumulated interest each year.
     When the route is transferred to another party and the bill paid in full the deposit would be returned. If. Mr. Glassman decides he wants to put up a deposit you should return this contract and we will send him a new contract carrying the amount of the deposit.
     If he decides to get surety signers he should return both copies of this contract so that they can be completed here at the office and returned to him. As you can see this contract is made effective May 1, 1970, and before the route can be transferred it will, of course, be necessary that your account is paid in full. We would appreciate you passing on to Mr. Glassman any information you feel will help him in carrying on as you have in the past.
     We would appreciate you letting him know how he might increase or decrease his papers and that the retail subscription price for The Kansas City Star, Morning, Evening and Sunday is $3.50 a month. For the Morning and Sunday or Evening and Sunday the rate is $2.85 a month. The extra copy rate is 10› per daily issue and 30› per Sunday.
     I am also enclosing a form that requires the social security number of Mr. Glassman and this form can be returned with the contract.
     As you know, The Star now has a hospitalization insurance program the carriers can participate in. I am enclosing a mimeograph copy of a letter telling of this coverage. I am also enclosing two insurance cards and they should both be signed where they are checked with a black mark. Have Mr. Glassman fill out one card entirely as our insurance department will copy by typewriter from one card to the other. This card should be returned within thirty days after the contract is effective so the individual can receive this coverage without a statement of health.
     I am sure that you already told Mr. Glassman, but we would also like to tell him that the draw at the present time is 139 Stars, 224 Times and 316 Sunday Stars. There are two DC on the draw, which I assume are for delivery to someone in the Hays area and he should understand that there is no charge for these copies.
     We believe that with your experience and background that your recommendation for the young man will be ample to make contract.
     Again, we want to extend to you our appreciation for the careful attention you have given The Star route in Hays, Kansas.

Yours truly,

THE KANSAS CITY STAR

     I remember a few years ago after Lee lost one eye, he met me on the street, and told me he was legally blind, as he could barely see out of the other. We asked Jesus to heal his eyesight. He went to an eye doctor the next day and his vision was 20-20, which was a lot better than mine.
     Three years later, I saw Lee driving that old station wagon, and I was amazed. The healing power of Jesus is hard to believe. Jesus commands us to lay hands on the blind and they will see, but we are mighty surprised when it actually happens. It does. Enough of that, let's read what Bob Boyd has to say about Lee Carley:
     I lost a good friend, September 24, when Lee Carley passed away in Hays. If he liked you, Lee would do anything for you; and he liked almost everyone. He delivered The Hays Daily News in Plainville, Zurich, Palco, Damar, Bogue, and Hill City for many years in his distinctive Chevrolet station wagon, loaded down with papers and assorted freight. He did me the favor of taking our pages for printing to the Hays Post Office to be mailed to Phillipsburg every Monday evening. And, if we missed the mail on Wednesday evenings, he would take our papers to the Hays Post Office. I have really loaded him down, but that Chevrolet Station Wagon could carry more freight and papers than you could ever believe. And, Lee, always glad to see me; and had time to visit a little. He could fix anything on his vehicles, so they never did break down completely. He was a legend, and as indestructible as his
     Chevrolet station wagon. Lee had health problems that would have killed a normal man, but he just kept coming back to Hill City in that Chevrolet wagon, loaded down with Hays daily's and freight. At his funeral last Monday, the minister Rev. Harold Wisner, said that Lee's heart beat on for several minutes after he died. I guess that Lee Carley's big, strong heart best describes this giant of a man who gave towns of       
     Plainville, Zurich, Palco, Damar, Bogue and Hill City such good service for 27 years.