June 4, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
There’s work to be done and everyone can help in getting a U.S. Heritage or Commemorative Postal Stamp to honor pro golfer John Matthew Shippen, Jr., the first American-born golf professional, who happened to be an African American.
In an ongoing initiative, since 2015, the John Shippen Memorial Golf Foundation has been embarking on an aggressive campaign for gaining a U.S. Postal Stamp to honor Shippen, the first American and the first African American to play in a U.S. Open golf tournament (1896).
In 2020, the the United States Postal Service announced that it will be recognizing Arnold Palmer with the issuance of a nationwide stamp as a part of its 2020 stamp program, saying, “with drive and charisma, he helped transform a game once seen as a pastime for the elite into a sport enjoyed by the masses.” The Palmer stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, meaning that it will always be equal in value to the current First Class Mail price.
Certainly, the life of John Shippen is deserving of this worthy honor. Shippen was born on December 2, 1879 and died on May 20, 1968. Shippen made his career in the sport and served as professional at several clubs, the last being the prestigious,African American-owned Shady Rest Golf Course in New Jersey, where he worked from 1924 to 1960. As industrious as he was ambition, Shippen made and sold his own golf clubs with the insignia reading “J.M. Shippen.”
Inside the fight to keep Shippen’s story alive is Ruby and Thurman Simmons. Married for over 58 years, the Scotch Plains, New Jersey couple have spent over 30 years to keep the golf trailblazer’s legacy alive. Shippen might have been forgotten if not for the Simmons, who are the co-founders of the John Shippen Memorial Golf Foundation.
They are no relation to the golfer and knew nothing about him until 1988. That’s when Ruby, an educator, took a course on African American Literature at a community college in Cranford, N.J. where her professor assigned her to write an essay on Shippen.
“The tribute stamp would be an inspiration to students, educators and the golf community throughout the world,” said Thurman in a previous interview with this publication. “There’s never been any golfer, Black or otherwise, that has had a U.S. postage stamp. I also believe that it would be a great selling stamp all around the world.”
The public is urged to play a participatory role in gaining this great honor for John Shippen, Jr. by signing the petition at https://www.change.org/p/pga-commemorative-or-heritage-us-postal-stamp-john-matthew-shippen-jr?fbclid=IwAR2koBW-HxL1q5_375RHXKCvYILrn8OVVltJWdJYV8519g5OLkinW3M5MA8
