When it comes to Penn State icons, few are more beloved than Mike Herr. For nearly 50 years, “Mike the Mailman” worked at the State College post offices, sharing his clever wit, postal expertise, and love for cookies with Penn State students.

The legend of Herr extends far beyond his work in the mailroom. His ability to cheer up everyone who stopped by is what makes him such a respected figure. Whether it be a clever one-liner, his lighthearted ink stamps on postage, or his infamous office decor, Herr grew to become a celebrity in State College and beyond.

Herr retired in 2016 after dedicating well over half his life to his profession. After meeting thousands of Penn Staters over the course of his 48-year tenure, Herr has learned valuable lessons about humanity, while experiencing some pretty memorable moments along the way.

This year, he authored and published his first book, “Pushing The Envelope,” a memoir that he wrote with his eldest daughter, Marykate Herr Weeks. The book is concise, at just 76 pages. But it’s jam-packed with stories, letters, pictures, and, of course, lots of cookie talk.  

Herr Weeks and Herr share a special bond. His daughter resembles her father in many ways. They both enjoy watching sports, something that Herr finds great joy in. 

“When [my] mom was getting her master’s, my dad was in charge of me a lot,” Herr Weeks said. “We would go to a lot of different sporting events, and that’s sort of how my love of sports came to be.” 

But for Herr and his daughter, it wasn’t simply the sports themselves that they enjoyed. It was how they were able to connect over a shared passion. Through watching their favorite teams play, from Penn State to Philadelphia, the two were able to develop a unique relationship rooted in communication that has lasted for decades.

“It’s been a privilege to have [my parents] around my whole life,” Herr Weeks said.

Herr Weeks has long known her father to be a special man. Growing up in Happy Valley, she saw the impact her dad had on the community first-hand. In fact, by the time she was born, Herr had already begun working at the downtown post office. 

Despite being around her father for her entire childhood, Herr Weeks never fully grasped just how much her dad meant to people. Herr remembers one time at a Nittany Lion football game when a fellow Penn Stater recognized and greeted him, much to the shock of his daughter.

“That was probably before I realized you were pseudo-famous,” Herr Weeks said.

Albeit caught off guard, Herr Weeks always understood why her father’s character resonates with so many.

“If my dad is obviously recognized for his kindness and humor, there’s something to be said about his consistency that’s very authentic, like it’s not an act,” she said. “This is someone that truly, genuinely, just wants to make your day a little bit brighter, and it makes his day a little bit better.” 

Naturally, when it came to writing their first book together, it was Herr Weeks who brought the idea to her father. With hopes of uplifting the people who read it and giving the world a look inside the life of her dad, Herr Weeks convinced her father to embark on a roughly eight-month-long writing project.

“‘Dad, everywhere I go, people know you. I think it’s time we should really get serious about doing this book,’” Herr recalled his daughter saying.

Through the writing process, Herr and Herr Weeks were able to learn more about each other and enrich their already strong connection. For Herr, he showed pride in his daughter’s sharpness when it came to balancing family time with her work. She currently holds a job in the Philadelphia area, so her ability to manage her profession, all while writing the book and making time for loved ones, is something Herr grew to appreciate.

“We always knew Marykate was very talented,” Herr said. “She’s on the cutting edge of everything.”

For Herr Weeks, one thing she became privy to about her father through the publishing journey was Herr’s spontaneity. She recalls learning about a story from her father’s youth when he ventured across the map to France to surprise his two sisters. 

“It was really cool to hear him as a younger self, with his younger siblings, and not see him as my dad,” Herr Weeks said. 

In addition to his European adventure, Herr was also a motorcycle enthusiast in his youth.

“[Herr Weeks] didn’t know I had three motorcycles when I was a kid,” Herr said. “I was a real rebel rouser,” he said jokingly.

But to those who knew Herr well, his sense of adventure came as no surprise. Herr is known for his nearly five decades of wholesome antics. At work, he would run a cookie-of-the-month contest, which caught on quickly with the community. Students would relish the opportunity to win Herr’s competition, which Herr received mutual and tasty benefits from. 

“The criteria was quality, quantity, and variety,” Herr said. “And no chocolate.” 

He is also known for his appreciation of sneakers, his tie collection, his remarkable talent of recalling every zip code in the country, and his ability to greet people in nearly 60 different languages.  

The story of Herr isn’t complete without mentioning all of these quirks that made his personality so unmistakable. But when it came to writing the memoir, it was impossible to include every little story that portrayed the kind of man Herr is.

“We wanted to focus in on the general things that became iconic for him,” Herr Weeks said. “‘How did they get to this status?’ ‘Where did that all start that still continues to this day?’ That’s kind of what made the cut as far as stories.”

Herr Weeks also mentioned that the short nature of the book leaves her and her father with the opportunity to write a sequel, something that would be very intriguing to them after how much the two enjoyed crafting the original.

But the book also talks about some of the more difficult moments of Herr’s career. He had a dispute with the postmaster about his vision for the campus post office. 

“[Herr] opted to hang some Penn State posters and really make his clientele feel that it was their post office, not his,” Herr Weeks said. 

One day, a postal inspector reported Herr’s office to the postmaster for improper decor and a lack of postal signage. The postmaster was on the verge of throwing away nearly everything Herr had hanging on the walls, before he urged her to preserve them.

Word spread of the dispute, and over 50 students rallied outside the post office to protest the censorship of Herr’s attempt at making the place feel like home. 

Herr deemed this event “The Great Rally of 2000,” and, fittingly, the leader of the protest group wound up becoming a Pennsylvania state representative.

While this may seem like a silly series of events, it was difficult for Herr to work for someone who disagreed with his vision for spreading positivity. The rally was a testament to just how strong of a connection he held with Penn Staters, and the selfless nature of his disposition.

The memoir also details the time when Herr was involved in a terrible accident on his way home from work one evening. He was struck by a car while riding his bicycle, resulting in a broken jaw.

Though upsetting to reminisce on, the decision to include the story was intentional.

“Life isn’t always perfect,” said Herr Weeks. “But you find the perfect in life, and how he navigated through that as well.”

This chapter in the book stayed true to the theme of authenticity that made Herr “the Mailman” that everybody loved and trusted. 

Since the book was published in October, Herr and Herr Weeks have since done book signings at various State College establishments. It has meant a lot for Herr to hear anecdotes from his fans and people whom he has impacted along the way.

“I’m just amazed how many people come in, have the book signed, and just tell me a little story or something, or how they first knew me, or what I did to them,” Herr said. 

The father-daughter duo has received nothing but positive feedback, and they have loved seeing the purpose of the memoir hit home with so many people.

“To feel uplifted or inspired, or, again, closing the book feeling better than when you opened it,” said Herr Weeks, referencing what she wishes readers will feel after reading the final page.

And when someone does finish laughing over stories and reminiscing over fond memories, they will find that the back cover of the book is no ordinary page. It is designed specifically to be used as a postcard. The artwork was defined by the family’s backyard neighbor and includes iconic State College landmarks. Herr and Herr Weeks hope that the reader will cut out the card to send to a friend or loved one, and cherish the spirit of the postal service that means so much to Herr.

“Dad loves getting mail,” said Herr Weeks. “He’s encouraging you as the reader to think of someone you want to say thank you to, or express gratitude. I’m hoping that when [the reader] shuts the book, they want to go find scissors and cut that postcard out and mail it to the person that immediately crossed their mind.”

While the postcard may serve as the final page in Herr’s memoir, his story extends far beyond the back cover. 

Since he retired on April Fools’ Day in 2016, 48 years to the day after he started his job, he has continued to push the envelope in his life away from the post office. In addition to spending quality time with his “bride” and love of his life, along with his youngest daughter Michaela Herr Hlubik, Herr Weeks, and his grandchildren, Herr enjoys playing tennis and talking Penn State football. 

Alongside Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani, and former Penn State defensive lineman Brandon Noble, Herr is a host on The Obligatory podcast, which aims to discuss everything blue and white. Herr is one of the most loyal Penn State fans you will find, and has crossed paths with Nittany Lion players and coaches from across the decades.

He recalls one day when a member of the football team came into the post office. Herr jokingly told the athlete that he would keep an eye on him during the season and critique his plays. During one game, the player was flagged twice for separate 15-yard penalties.

“When he came in the door, I had an old yellow shirt. I threw two [penalty] flags at him,” said Herr. 

This perfectly summed up Herr’s sense of humor. He would occasionally poke fun at you, but never in a way that made you feel bad about yourself. In fact, every joke that Herr told or pulled would have the intention of making you smile.

Herr has met and been recognized by a lot of well-known figures over the course of his career. His memoir includes personal quotes from Sue Paterno, and even a letter he received from Barack Obama, who thanked Herr for his dedication to the postal service and his country after his retirement.

He has been interviewed on CBS Evening News and has heard from people from all across the country.

“I got a letter from a guy from Colorado last week,” said Herr. “He said, ‘Mike the Mailman, I want to thank you for all the things you did for me.’ He’s 65 years old.”

But Herr was never trying to gain recognition. He’s just a man who loved what he did. His optimistic outlook on life has left an imprint on the hearts of so many.

“I do what I do,” said Herr. “I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I am who I am. I’ve always been this way. I didn’t know that I had such a positive effect on that many people.”

Herr always tried to provide guidance whenever he could. He took particular interest in helping international students find their footing. 

He would also always ensure that students knew how to wrap a package, and even gave one kid a course related to the matter. Originally offering the class as a joke at 6:37 a.m., the student took him at his word and knocked on Herr’s door the next morning. People took a genuine interest in learning from Herr, and he took a genuine interest in teaching.

“I think it’s all about the people. I love people. I want to connect with people,” he said.

Herr has continued giving back through his work with THON Mail Call. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences for him, as he is able to combine his love for serving others even further with his career.

“I think THON is Penn State,” he said. “That’s by far the best thing ever. The students are so involved, so gracious, so giving.”

It will never be in question that Herr is a man of the people. His relationship with his family is one of deep love and appreciation, as his relationship with his clientele is not too far off from the same. He continues to treat everyone with respect and wants nothing but the best for everyone.

Despite the rise in the digital age, Herr continues to push for face-to-face conversation. He encourages current Penn State students to have fun and try to reduce the stressors that come with being a college kid as best they can.

Whether it’s helping to mail a letter, a coconut, a beach ball, or anything in between, Herr always took the same time and effort in making sure your mail was handled with care. And more importantly, he would always ensure that this same sentiment was reflected toward the people who visited.

It was never about him. He was a public servant who looked out for his community. Or, in Herr’s mind, a kid who never grew up. Those who see Herr today will likely be greeted with the same iconic smile that has been a staple at Penn State for years.

And if you ask him how he’s doing, he will likely respond with one of his signature one-liners. 

“I’ve never had a bad day,” Herr said. “I’m very blessed.”

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Folks interested in purchasing a copy of “Pushing The Envelope” can do so on mikethemailmanbook.com. Herr also welcomes letters, which can be mailed or sent via the contact feature on the website. The price of the book is $19.68, signifying the year Herr began working at the downtown post office.