IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 218

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a commemorative

postage stamp should be issued in honor of Ava Gardner.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 3, 1997

Mr. ETHERIDGE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that

a commemorative postage stamp should be issued in

honor of Ava Gardner.

Whereas Ava Lavinia Gardner is one of America’s most accomplished actresses this century;

Whereas her work was world renowned, taking her around

the country and globe, and she resided in New York,

California, Spain, and England, spreading the goodwill of

the American people and setting the mark in film, radio,

and television for aspiring actresses and actors to follow;

Whereas her movie career was recognized by her peers and

industry, she received a Golden Globe nomination for

‘‘Best Actress in a Drama’’ for ‘‘Night of the Iguana’’

(1964), the Academy of Motion Pictures ‘‘Merit for Outstanding Achievement, Best Actress’’ nomination for
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•HRES 218 IH

‘‘Mogambo’’ (1953), and the Look ‘‘Film Achievement’’

award for her performance in ‘‘The Hucksters’’ (1947);

Whereas her work personified and led the true golden age of

Hollywood, when stories were of the heart and when values dictated one’s performance such as her role as Sarah

in ‘‘The Bible . . . in the Beginning’’, recognized as the

Best Picture of the month for the Whole Family with the

Box Office Blue-Ribbon Award (1966);

Whereas her patriotism was unparalleled, and she was recognized by the United States Armed Forces for her spirit

of public service, and for her distinguished performance

as guest star of the Armed Forces radio network’s production of ‘‘Victorious Lady’’;

Whereas Time Magazine, one of the world’s most widely read

publications, recognized her achievements in 1951, dedicating its cover to Ava Gardner, the first female from her

home State of North Carolina ever to appear there;

Whereas though she rose to great heights from humble beginnings, living the American Dream through hard work and

perseverance, she forgot neither the needs of ordinary

people, as she worked tirelessly for cancer research funding, nor the people of Johnston County, North Carolina,

where she was born the youngest of the five daughters

and two sons of Jonas and Mary Elizabeth Gardner, and

later attended high school in the Rock Ridge community,

and then Atlantic Christian College (Barton College) in

Wilson, North Carolina;

Whereas citizens from every State in the United States and

across the world revere her work, visiting the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina, and her numerous related worldwide web internet sites, and enjoying
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her work in episodes of the hit television series ‘‘Knots

Landing’’, and her life story through biographical television movies;

Whereas her work carries on, despite her passing from this

Earth January 25, 1990;

Whereas Ava Lavinia Gardner is one of America’s most accomplished actresses this century, leading the Hollywood

golden age, spreading the goodwill and patriotism of the

American people around the globe, and setting the mark

in film, radio, and television for aspiring actresses and

actors to follow; and

Whereas the ‘‘Ava Gardner 2000 Stamp Committee’’, spearheaded by the Ava Gardner Museum and the work of its

indefatigable volunteers in Smithfield, North Carolina, to

celebrate her life has targeted the decade anniversary of

her passing of January 25, 2000, for the publication of

a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal

Service: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be

4 issued by the United States Postal Service in honor

5 of Ava Gardner; and

6 (2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee of

7 the United States Postal Service should recommend

8 to the Postmaster General that such a postage

9 stamp be issued.

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