Rockford post office may be renamed to honor slain letter carrier Jay Larson
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The U.S. post office on Harrison Avenue may be renamed to honor longtime postal worker Jay Larson, who was killed in a stabbing spree March 27 while delivering letters on his route.
Congressman Eric Sorensen, a Democrat, and Congressman Darin LaHood, a Republican, have introduced a bill to rename the building at 5225 Harrison Ave. as the Jay P. Larson Post Office Building. The bill has been assigned to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
“Jay Larson was the perfect example of what it meant to be a good neighbor,” Sorensen said Wednesday in a news release. “Throughout his 25 years in the United States Postal Service, Jay always made sure his neighbors got their mail, never taking a sick day. And when his fellow letter carriers needed help finishing their routes, Jay worked overtime to lend a hand to those who needed it.”
Sorensen said that as Rockford continues to mourn Larson’s death, he wants to make sure “that future generations of Rockfordians remember him and how he made our neighborhoods a better place.”
The U.S. Postal Service has an independent authority to name its post offices. Congress can also pass legislation to name or rename facilities.
“Jay Larson was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the Rockford community,” LaHood said in a news release. “He embodied the best of our Midwestern values through his strong work ethic and compassion for others during his 25 years as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. I am proud to support this legislation with Representative Sorensen, which would dedicate the Harrison Avenue Post Office in Jay’s honor, preserving his legacy and serving as a reminder of the positive impact one person can have on an entire community.”
Larson, who was 49, was killed in a mass stabbing and attack that spanned across several homes in southeast Rockford. The attack also claimed the lives of Jacob Schupbach, 23, and his mother Romona Schupbach, 63, and Jenna Newcomb, 15. Seven others were injured in the attack.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
