Arnold Palmer was hailed as both a great American and a great golfer during the March 4 dedication ceremony for the stamp in his honor.
Palmer (1929-2016) rose to sports prominence in the 1950s and ’60s, expanding golf’s appeal through his athletic prowess and magnetic personality.
“Mr. Palmer was a transformative figure in the game of golf. He made it happen with his charisma, his personality and his rivalries with other golf greats,” said Roman Martinez IV, a member of the USPS Board of Governors who spoke at the ceremony.
“But beyond golf, Arnold was really a great man. He had great character; he was a philanthropist and a great businessman. He was the perfect role model.”
The event was held in Orlando, FL, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) Tour event.
Other participants included Sam Saunders, a PGA Tour pro and Arnold Palmer’s grandson; Amy Saunders, Palmer’s daughter and chair of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; and Golf Channel host Rich Lerner, who served as master of ceremonies.
In his storied career, Palmer won 62 PGA Tour events, the fifth-most of all time, and 92 tournaments worldwide.
The Arnold Palmer Forever stamp, available at Post Offices and usps.com, features a photo of Palmer in action at the 1964 U.S. Open.
“Wow,” Lerner told the audience after the stamp image was unveiled during the ceremony. “I don’t know about you folks, but I’m taking a break from email. I’m getting a book of these stamps and I’m going to write some letters.”
