House Votes to Rename Smithfield Post Office in Honor of Hazen Hilly

Washington—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation introduced by Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), H.R. 3767, to rename the United States Postal Service facility located at 170 North Main Street in Smithfield, Utah as the “W. Hazen Hillyard Post Office Building.” W. Hazen Hillyard was Postmaster in Smithfield, Utah for 29 years (1934 – 1963.)

“W. Hazen Hillyard devoted his life to the Smithfield community and its residents. The naming of this post office is a fitting tribute to the love he had for his community, the many lives he touched and the example he set for others,” said Congressman Rob Bishop.

W. Hazen Hillyard was born June 6, 1893 in Smithfield, Utah and grew up on his father’s farm. He served on the Smithfield City Council from 1930 – 1933 and again from 1964 – 1968, during which time he promoted projects to improve and beautify Smithfield. While on the City Council, he performed painstaking research to verify, upgrade and catalogue the records of the City Cemetery.

He was active in the local Kiwanis Club, of which he was elected its president in 1937. He served many years on the City Library Board, including several years as chairman of the board. He was chairman of the Smithfield Historical Heritage Society for four years.

He was a member of the Cache Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America for many years, serving as Vice Chairman of the Council. In 1961 he was presented with the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his long time service in the scouting program.

The Smithfield Lion’s Club honored Hazen in 1974 with its Outstanding Citizen of the Year award.

He was appointed Postmaster of Smithfield in 1934. At that time there was no house-to-house mail delivery in the city so the citizens had to call at the Post Office for their mail. Hazen enjoyed interacting with the people as they stopped at the general delivery window for their mail and for other mail services. He was active in the Utah chapter of the National Postmasters Association being elected as its president at the convention held in Logan, Utah in 1952. He visited all of the post offices in Utah during that year of service.

As the population of Smithfield increased, he recognized the need for larger and better postal facilities. He was successful in getting a new, larger building for the post office in 1957. In 1963 he completed arrangements for city delivery of the mail to houses in Smithfield.

When Hazen grew older he still was very interested in the improvement and advancement of Smithfield. All would agree he loved the people and the community.

W. Hazen Hillyard died April 22, 1992 in his 99th year.