Capitol Hill Press Releases
Etheridge Launches Effort
to Put Screen Legend and NC Native Ava Gardner on Postage Stamp Lawmaker
says designation would be an appropriate honor for world- renowned actress,
calls on residents to write showing their support WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep.
Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today launched an effort he is undertaking
in Congress to have a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service in
honor of the late former screen legend and North Carolina native Ava Gardner.
Etheridge announced that he will introduce legislation in Congress next
week to urge the U.S. Postal Service Stamp Advisory Committee to issue
a stamp for the world-famous screen star who died on January 25, 1990.
A person must be deceased ten years to be eligible to be placed on a postage
stamp. Etheridge was joined at the press conference by Gardner's grand
niece and namesake Ava Carol Thompson, State Senator Allen Wellons (D-Johnston),
Deidra Kraft, Chairman of the Board of the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield
and other local and state officials. ``I am proud to be launching this
effort to issue a stamp in honor of Ava Gardner not only because she is
a native of our great state, but because of her accomplishments and the
lives she touched around the world,`` Etheridge said. ``Ava Gardner lived
the American Dream but never forgot her humble beginnings in Johnston County,
her high school days at Rock Ridge or her days at Atlantic Christian College.
Ava Gardner`s career spanned five decades, and she was America`s sweetheart
during Hollywood`s Golden Age. Ava was also a patriot who performed for
our servicemen and a tireless leader in the fight against cancer. Having
a stamp issued in your memory is a high honor. If Daffy Duck and the dung
beetle are worthy of postage stamps, surely someone as glamorous and accomplished
as Ava Gardner deserves one.`` Gardner, a native of Smithfield in Johnston
County, attended Rock Ridge High School in Wilson County and Atlantic Christian
College (now Barton College) in Wilson. In the summer of 1941 Ava Gardner
made her first trek across country to Hollywood where her career as a film
legend soon took off. Gardner, who was once married to Frank Sinatra, made
at least 64 films throughout her five-decade career and won many honors
including: A Golden Globe nomination for ``Best Actress in a Drama`` for
``Night of the Iguana`` in 1964; The Academy of Motion Pictures ``Merit
for Outstanding Achievement - Best Actress`` nomination for ``Mogambo``
in 1953; And the Look ``Film Achievement`` award for her performance in
``The Hucksters`` in 1947. Ava Gardner was also the first woman from North
Carolina to grace the cover of Time magazine. In addition to her success
on the silver screen, Ava was a leader in the fight against cancer and
worked tirelessly for more funding for research. Ms. Gardner was also a
patriot and was recognized by the U.S. Armed Forces for her spirit of public
service and her performance as a guest star on the Armed Forces radio network`s
production of ``Victorious Lady.`` Ava Gardner is known around the world
as one of the most accomplished actresses in the 20th century. She led
the Hollywood golden age and shared the stage with Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster,
and Grace Kelly. Throughout her career Ms. Gardner lived in New York, California,
England and Spain. So revered was she in Spain that a statue was erected
in her honor that still stands today. Ava Gardner is buried along with
her parents in Smithfield. Ten other native North Carolinian`s have been
honored on commemorative postage stamps, including: President Andrew Johnson
born in Raleigh, Virginia Dare, the first child born in America on Roanoke
Island in 1587, Author Thomas Wolfe of Asheville, First Lady Dolly Madison
born in Guilford, President James K. Polk born in Pineville, band leader
John William Coltrane born in Hamlet, jazz musician Thelonius Monk born
in Rocky Mount and the North Carolina signers of the U.S. Constitution
Dr. Hugh Williamson of Edenton, William Blount of Windsor and Richard Speight
of Craven County. Etheridge called on Gardner`s fans to join in the campaign
to have a stamp issued for the film legend by expressing their support
in letters or e-mails to Etheridge`s office. Fans can send letters to:
Congressman Bob Etheridge, 1533 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 or
by accessing Etheridge`s e- mail via his website at
www.house.gov/etheridge.
Etheridge`s remarks at today`s press conference appear below. Congressman
Bob Etheridge Remarks for Ava Gardner Legislation Announcement February
8, 2001 Good morning, I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate the
life and accomplishments of Johnston County`s favorite daughter and one
of the world`s all time great actresses, Ava Gardner. Let me thank Billie
Stevens and Deidre Kraft of the Ava Gardner Museum for your hard work to
preserve Ava`s legacy. Without your dedication and vision we would not
be here today. I also want to thank State Senator Allen Wellons, Pete Connet,
Smithfield`s Town Manager, Donna Bailey Taylor of the Johnston County Bureau
of Tourism, and the Four Oaks Bank for your support of the Ava Gardner
Museum and for being with us today. We also have a relative of Ava Gardner
with us today: Ava Carol Thompson, Ava Gardner`s grand niece and namesake.
We are glad you`re here and appreciate your support. I am excited to be
here today, having grown up in Johnston County myself, to join with all
of you in paying tribute to this fine North Carolinian. Today we begin
an effort to achieve our ultimate goal to honor this great woman - having
a postage stamp issued for Ava Gardner. When I return to Washington next
week, I will introduce legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives
urging the Postmaster General to issue a stamp honoring Ava Gardner. I
am proud to be launching this effort in Ava Gardner`s memory, not only
because she is a native of this great state, but also because of her accomplishments
and the lives she touched around the world. Ava Gardner lived the American
Dream but never forgot her humble beginnings in Johnston County, her high
school days in Rock Ridge or her time at Atlantic Christian College in
Wilson. Indeed, Ava`s story is the American Dream. Born the youngest of
seven children of Jonas and Mary Elizabeth Gardner Ava grew up near Smithfield.
In the summer of 1941 the Smithfield Herald told the story of Ava Gardner`s
trip across country to a place called Hollywood. When she arrived in Hollywood,
it didn`t take long for the whole world to recognize what the people of
Smithfield and all of North Carolina already saw - Ava`s remarkable talent.
During her career, she starred in 64 films and won many honors including:
A Golden Globe nomination for ``Best Actress in a Drama`` for ``Night of
the Iguana`` in 1964; The Academy of Motion Pictures ``Merit for Outstanding
Achievement - Best Actress`` nomination for ``Mogambo`` in 1953; And the
Look ``Film Achievement`` award for her performance in ``The Hucksters``
in 1947. She was also the first woman from North Carolina to grace the
cover of Time magazine. In addition to her success on the silver screen,
Ava was a leader in the fight against cancer and worked tirelessly for
more funding for research. She was also a patriot and was recognized by
the U.S. Armed Forces for her spirit of public service and her performance
as a guest star on the Armed Forces radio network`s production of ``Victorious
Lady.`` Ava Gardner was one of America`s most accomplished actresses in
the 20th century. She led the Hollywood golden age, shared the stage with
Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, and Grace Kelly. She served as a goodwill
ambassador to people around the globe. Her fame lives on through her movies
and the wonderful Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield. With all of her accomplishments
and her record of public service, it is fitting that this great actress
and American should be immortalized on a commemorative postage stamp. Having
a stamp issued in your memory is a high honor. But folks, if they can put
Daffy Duck and the dung beetle on a postage stamp, for sure there is a
place for someone as glamorous and accomplished as Ava Gardner on one.
Ten other native North Carolinian`s have been honored on commemorative
postage stamps, including: President Andrew Johnson born in Raleigh, Virginia
Dare, the first child born in America on Roanoke Island in 1587, Author
Thomas Wolfe of Asheville, First Lady Dolly Madison born in Guilford, President
James K. Polk born in Pineville, band leader John William Coltrane born
in Hamlet, jazz musician Thelonius Monk born in Rocky Mount and the North
Carolina signers of the U.S. Constitution Dr. Hugh Williamson of Edenton,
William Blount of Windsor and Richard Speight of Craven County. It`s time
one was issued for Ava Gardner. The supporters of the Ava Gardner Museum
and I need your help. If you support this legislation urging the U.S. Postal
Service to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Ava Gardner, please write
me a letter. Address your letters to my Washington Office at 1533 Longworth
House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 or e-mail me via my website
at
www.house.gov/etheridge. We will forward these letters and e-mails to
the postal service and the appropriate committees. Thank you all for joining
us for today`s announcement and thank you for your support. At this time
I would like to call on Senator Wellons for some brief remarks followed
by Ava Thompson and Ms. Kraft - after which we will unveil a mock-up of
the stamp we would propose be issued in memory of Ms. Gardner by the postal
service. Senator Wellons.