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United States Postal Service

Wilma Rudolph Press Release


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WASHINGTON — Wilma Rudolph, track and field legend, was honored today when the U.S. Postal Service issued a twenty-three cent definitive postage stamp recognizing her achievements. The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony was held at 12:30 p.m. (PST) on the west steps of the State Capitol building, Sacramento, CA. The ceremonies were part of festivities surrounding the start of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field, taking place July 9-18, at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex at California State University, Sacramento.

"The United States Postal Service is pleased to honor such a remarkable woman whose unforgettable smile will grace a new postage stamp in our Distinguished Americans stamp series," said Henry A. Pankey, Vice President, Emergency Preparedness, U.S. Postal Service, who dedicated the stamp. "At the Postal Service, we understand the power our stamps have in helping to celebrate special people — like Wilma Rudolph –- who has helped to define our world. In this small way, we have created a lasting tribute to her perseverance and accomplishments."

Joining Pankey to dedicate the stamp were U.S. Olympic medalists Bob Beamon, Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Bob Mathias, Bill Mills and the celebrated Tennessee State Tigerbelle Olympians.

The Rudolph stamp is fifth in the Distinguished Americans series. It was designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ. Artist Mark Summers of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, created the portrait for the stamp, referencing a photograph of Rudolph taken after she won three gold medals at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Summers also was the artist for the first four stamps in the Distinguished Americans series — Joseph W. Stilwell (2000), Claude Pepper (2000), Hattie W. Caraway (2001) and Edna Ferber (2002).

As host city for this first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony, Sacramento holds the unique distinction of being the nation’s only city where the stamp is available today. The stamp will be available at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers nationwide July 15.