THE NEW BUCK OWENS POST OFFICE

THE BUCK OWENS POST OFFICE FIRST RUBBER STAMPING




Hank Ray in front of KUZZ truck





John Owens signing autographs




Auto owned by KUZZ radio





Hank Ray with sheriff Donny Youngblood




Hank Ray with Congressman Kevin McCarthy






Dr. BLT with Buddy Allen Owens.






Buddy Owens with Hank Ray





John Owens with Mike


DATA FROM EYE STREET, BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN:



JOHN AND BUDDY OWENS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS



Buck Owens Post Office unwrapped on Buck's birthday
By JOE BOESEN, Californian staff writer
jboesen@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, Aug 12 2008 3:01 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Aug 12 2008 2:53 PM
The Minner Station Post Office in Oildale was officially renamed “Buck Owens Post Office” Tuesday — the same day as the late country singer’s birthday. Several hundred people gathered in the morning to celebrate the man who made Bakersfield famous.
Under a white tent at 118 Minner Ave., Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, Owens’ sons Buddy, Mike and John, along with his nephew Mel Owens, unveiled a plaque in Owens’ honor.
“Dad would’ve been really, very proud,” said Buddy Owens before the plaque was revealed. “My dad loved Bakersfield and he loved the fact that his name was attached to it.”
Those in attendance sang “Happy Birthday” to Owens before the sheet was lifted to show the plaque.
Bakersfield Postmaster James Brouillard and McCarthy also gave speeches about Owens and his impact on the city.
“The post office is an important part of people’s lives and Buck was an important part of Bakersfield,” Brouillard said.
McCarthy commented that passing the bill to get the post office renamed for Buck Owens was a time of great partisanship in Congress.
“If we could continue with that spirit on other legislation, we would be a lot better off,” he said to laughter from the audience.
Buck Owens Post Office is about a block from Buck Owens Production Co. and the studio where Owens spent almost 20 years recording later in his career. The post office is also where he sent his sons to respond to fan mail.
“We licked a lot of stamps at the office,” Buddy said.
After revealing the plaque, the ceremony moved inside where the Owens family cut his birthday cake.
"If Buck saw the post office named after him," his nephew Mel Owens said, “He would’ve said ‘Wow, I did something right along the way to get such an honor.’”
The Owens family donated Buck Owens memorabilia to hang in the lobby. The office was also rehabbed by the United States Postal Service before the ceremony.
Those attending the ceremony remembered Owens as a giving man and an excellent entertainer.
“I would see him at Hodel’s,” said Oildale resident Alice Brown, whose children went to school with Owens’ sons. “He just seemed like a regular guy.”
Hank Decato knew Owens as a great song writer and entertainer.
“He did so much for Bakersfield and never got credit. He didn’t want the credit,” he said. “He helped so many people down on their luck and nobody knew because he kept it quiet.”