Editors Note: This is the ninth article in a series focusing on moving vehicles of State College and the people whose job it is to drive them.

The past couple of days have been quite hectic for Marlin Luse when he makes his daily mail delivery to Joe Paterno's office.

Since Paterno was injured at the Nov. 4 Wisconsin game, Luse said the football coach has received about 50 to 75 greeting cards a day with return addresses from all over the United States.

"Tons and tons of get-well cards. He's been getting a lot," Luse said.

A few weeks before, Luse recalled Paterno's energy on
one of his trips to his office.

"Of course Joe always has to take the steps to stay in shape," Luse said, referring to how Paterno usually opts for stairs and not an elevator. "[He said] 'You have to take the steps there, young man' and I said, 'I would if I didn't have to take your mail.' "

Luse said he saw how Paterno got hit during the game and hopes to see the coach taking the stairs again soon.

"He's a tough guy," he said.

Paterno's office, located in the Lasch Football Building, is just one of the many stops for Luse.

As a driver for Campus Mail for more than 20 years, Luse said he gets to know the people he delivers mail to pretty well. Prior to working for Campus Mail, Luse said he worked in University Food Services.

"It's another family to me," Luse said, who met his wife while working at Penn State. "But I'm ready to retire ... four more years."

Besides Luse, there are three other mail drivers with their own routes. Campus Mail deals with mail from campus and downtown.

Luse, whose days begin at 8 a.m. and end around 4:30 p.m., is responsible for the central part of campus, including the HUB-Robeson Center, the Fenske Building and the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC).

Inside his mail truck, there are mail slots for each of the buildings on his route, including a separate mail slot for Paterno.

After many years of delivering mail on campus, not only does Luse have his route down pat, but he also knows when he has to be a bit more careful driving.

"Do you see?" Luse said later, looking back at a student on a bike who pulled out of nowhere near the Bennett Family Center.

Luse doesn't stray away from campus too long on his days off. He said he also attends Penn State football games, Spikes games and BJC concerts.

His next stop was the Swine Research Center.

"Even the pigs get mail," Luse said holding up a catalog, as he steps out of his truck. "Hold your breath."

But the stench didn't bother Luse who grew up on a farm in Centre Hall. He handed the catalog to one of the employees in the center and walked right back out to his next stop.

The BJC was Luse's last stop before he headed back to sort through his mail and eat lunch.

Everyone inside greeted Luse and joked around with him.

Sharon Ries, BJC staff assistant, said she has known Luse for 12 years.

"I have a piece of Marlin on my desk," she said, pointing to a faded yellow patch of fabric.

The fabric was the remains of Luse's yellow slicker that he would wear on rainy days. Ries would always make fun of his rain gear. So, when Luse retired the slicker, he gave a piece to Ries to hang next to her desk.

"Out of all the years, I've never had a bad experience with customers," Luse said, driving back to the mail headquarters. "The better you get along with them, the more they appreciate what you do for them."