Congressman David Rouzer (NC-7) has written a letter to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee encouraging them to honor Johnston County native Ava Gardner with a “Forever” postage stamp.
The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee is appointed by the Postmaster General and provides expertise on history, science and technology, art, education, sports, and other subjects of public interest. The committee’s primary goal is to recommend stamp subjects to the Postmaster General, who makes the final decision.
“Ava Gardner is a North Carolina treasure and an international film legend,” Rouzer said. “Despite her success on the silver screen, Ava never forgot her humble Johnston County roots. She worked tirelessly to give back to her community and was recognized by the U.S. Armed Forces for her spirit of public service. I am proud to call Ava Gardner a fellow North Carolinian and hope to see her memory honored with a “Forever” stamp – just as it should be.”
Ava Gardner was born in Johnston County, the youngest of seven children. In the summer of 1941, The Smithfield Herald told the story of Ava Gardner’s trip across country to Hollywood. During her career she starred in 64 films and was the first woman from North Carolina to grace the cover of Time magazine. Ava Gardner was one of America’s most accomplished actresses in the 20th century. She led the Hollywood golden age and shared the stage with such notable actors as Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster and Grace Kelly. In addition to her success on the silver screen, Ava Gardner was a leader in the fight against cancer and worked tirelessly for research funding. She served as a goodwill ambassador to people around the globe and was recognized by the U.S. Armed Forces for her public service. She died on January 25, 1990.
In August 2006, the Smithfield Post Office was officially named for Ava Gardner after legislation filed by former Congressman Bob Etheridge was passed in Congress then signed by the President.
