“For the first time in 32 years Wilbur Jacobson doesn’t care if the Oregonian is delivered or not. He retired from this service December 1st.

“He has served Wahkiakum and Pacific counties as distributor and dealer and has driven over 200 miles a day for the past 20 years. His experiences have been varied. He has not missed a day’s delivery though he has driven through snow, hail, and other adverse weather conditions. He has gone through water to the floor boards of the vehicle and on many occasions, due to slides along Ocean Beach highway, has had to use the Beaver Creek road. He has witnessed countless accidents and has discovered and reported several fires while driving at night. As he says, “When others were sleeping, I was working.”

“At 14 years, Jacobson started his career as a newspaper carrier. Cathlamet has always been home to Jacobson. He was born and raised here and is a graduate of Wahkiakum high school. In the late 1930’s he served as assistant postmaster with Mrs. Bruce Paulworth, who was postmaster. He served the post office department as a substitute carrier and worked six months in one stretch when Mr. Kinnion was recuperating from a back injury. He also worked for a time for Mr. Prue in the Toggery Shop.

“During the war he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While he was gone Mrs. Jacobson, the former Mary Wegdahl, stepped in and operated the carrier business. She also kept the “Wilbur Jacobson Orchestra” together. Jacobson had organized the orchestra while he was still in high school and has held it together since. One member of the orchestra was also a member of his family, his daughter, Mrs. Jack Gorley, who played alto saxophone.

“The Jacobsons have four children, Kathy is 18 and a freshman at Lower Columbia college. She is employed by the Eagle and works part time. Their son Dale is 16 and is a junior at Wahkiakum high school. He plays the trumpet. Doreen is in the fifth grade and is learning to play clarinet. Jill, youngest of the children, is two years old. She hasn’t yet chosen her instrument. Rounding out the family is a grandson, Troy Gorley, and Jacobson’s mother, Mrs. Charles Blanchat of Cathlamet.

“The family purchased property in Long Beach and together they built a summer home. In his enterprise he has been ably assisted by his family. Among his activities are memberships in the musicians’ union. He has been a member of the Cathlamet Fire Department for 20 years. – Cathlamet Eagle.” – Dec. 17, 1965