Foster wants Aurora post office named for longtime letter carrier

An Aurora post office could be named in honor of longtime resident Ken Christy if U.S. Rep. Bill Foster gets his way.

Foster, a Naperville Democrat, has introduced a bill to designate the facility at 525 N. Broadway as the Kenneth M. Christy Post Office Building.

Christy, who was serving as Aurora Township clerk and president of the Illinois State Association of Letter Carriers, was 71 when he died on March 26. He spent more than 35 years as a letter carrier for the Aurora post office.

"Ken was a true leader in every sense of the word," Foster said in a written statement. "He was a dedicated union and community advocate who worked tirelessly on behalf of his fellow letter carriers and fellow citizens.

"What better way to honor his legacy of public service than (to) have the Aurora post office bear his name."

Born in Chicago, Christy grew up in Bellwood and attended Triton College, DePaul University and the University of Illinois.

He worked for a grocery store chain before becoming a letter carrier. A Democrat, he was elected to his township post in 2013.

His vice president in the letter carriers association, John Cooksey, praised Christy last month for his effectiveness in dealing with legislators and his advocacy for union members.

Upon Christy's passing, township Supervisor Bill Catching told the Daily Herald he remembered a speech Christy gave on behalf of Foster.

"You hear these things all the time," Catching said, "but after hearing his speech, you were ready to run through a brick wall and knock on 100 doors."