Dennis Davis, who turned 50 on Jan. 31, has been delivering mail on the same route for almost 20 years.

"Dennis is as much a part of our neighborhood as any of us. Almost everyone left a card for him in their mailbox, and some left cookies," says resident Pat Ross, who along with resident Lee Palmer helped organize the celebration by calling neighbors and reminding them of Davis' upcoming birthday.

In addition to cards and cookies, residents decorated their mailboxes and garage doors, wrote messages in chalk in the street and posted signs along the route with such whimsical sentiments as "Welcome to Overthehillsville," lightheartedly teasing Davis about his creeping years.

"Dennis loved it," Palmer says. "We were all standing around talking about it, and Dennis was laughing and slapping his knee."

Davis began his career with the U.S. Postal Service 23 years ago. He started out working flex time and substituting on routes as needed, but when the opportunity came for him to bid on the route spanning Meridian and Leigh avenues and Dry Creek Road and Curtner Avenue, he jumped at the chance.

"I had substituted on the route before and really enjoyed the people and the neighborhood," Davis says. "I was surprised I got it, but it is a long route with a lot of volume, so I guess nobody else wanted it. I look forward to going to work because I spend my day in a great environment with a lot of very nice people. It is truly a blessing."

Residents in his area feel the same way and were eager to show Davis their appreciation.

"He's a wonderful guy who cares about everyone and everything. He watches out for people and goes out of his way to help. He's the kind of person you wish the whole world was made of," Ross says. "We are blessed to have him."

Davis thinks nothing of taking elderly neighbors shopping or watching over the property of people he knows are out of town.

"I was supposed to be collecting the mail for a neighbor next door," Ross says. "One day I forgot, and Dennis started holding it so it didn't pile up."

In addition to making sure the people on his route are taken care of, Davis carries bones in his pocket for the neighborhood dogs.

"I look out for the families on my route, and dogs are part of people's family," Davis says. "Besides, I love dogs."

Davis doesn't see his behavior as anything special.

"I enjoy having the opportunity to help people, and I just treat people how I would want to be treated," he says.

Although some people have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, there are always new families moving in. Even so, Davis says the neighborhood remains tightly knit and has a small-town feel where people take care of each other.

"Whenever new people move into the neighborhood, we try to have some kind of a party to welcome them," Palmer says. "Plus, we traditionally have a neighborhood Christmas party that involves a potluck and gift exchange, and we have a barbecue every Memorial Day. And we always invite Dennis."

Still, Davis takes it all in stride saying, "Everyone loves to get together and have a good time; my birthday was just a good excuse for a party."