Carroll Eugene Beach papers, 1918-1987, bulk 1918

Carroll Eugene Beach was born February 10, 1894 and was a son of John Ambrose and Margaret Hockman Beach. Mr. Beach was a graduate of Luray High School and Roanoke College and was the only student at that time to receive the declaimers, debaters, and orators medals. He studied advertising and marketing at New York University. On April 18, 1922, he married Dorothy Caroline Long.

A veteran of World War I, he served overseas with the University of Virginia Base Hospital Unit 41 in France. From 1924-1934 he was actively identified with the Association of Advertising Men as president and director. He was a life member and delegate to the International Advertising Convention in Berlin, Germany in 1929. After moving to Luray, Mr. Beach founded the Carroll E. Beach Insurance Agency, later known as the Fred C. Walker Insurance Agency. He was involved in the insurance business 13 years prior to his postal position.

Mr. Beach was appointed postmaster at the Luray Post Office July 1, 1951 and only retired on April 3, 1965 because of his age. During his term as Luray postmaster, there were many changes in the postal service and operations, among these the beginning of the highway post office service in Page County, establishment of certified mail service, zip coding of mail, and the initiation of public cooperation and customer service programs. He was selected as counselor for the Postmaster's Orientation Program and was given the counselor certificate in 1963. Mr. Beach was the fifth member of his family to have been associated with the Postal Service. His father was a rural carrier for 16 years. One brother was a postal clerk and assistant postmaster for 37½ years, another brother was a substitute rural carrier for seven years, and a third brother was a city carrier for 29½ years.

Mr. Beach was a 50-year member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the American Legion. He was a past president and former member of the Luray Rotary Club and a member of the Sunset Vespers Association and the Senior Supper Club. He was a member and trustee of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Luray. Mr. Beach was associated with the Christian Herald Magazine in New York for two years in advertising and promotional work and with the American Bible Society for 15 years in public relations and advertising.

Mr. Beach died December 30, 1986 at the age of 92.