Obituaries
 

 		  


Hubert Skinner, left, shown here at the 2000 TEXPEX CSA
convention with Dick Corwin and Tony Crumbley

Hubert C. Skinner
1929 - 2009 

In the days since his death, Hubert Clayton Skinner has been described as son, brother, father, professor, author, auctioneer, collector, student, teacher, mentor and dear friend.  He was certainly all of these and more.  He touched the lives of thousands of stamp collectors in his near half-century of philatelic research, exhibiting, writing and editing.  Philately is definitely much richer because of his many outstanding contributions.  He will be missed by many both as a friend and mentor.  It is hard to say whether he enjoyed his role as student or teacher more, for as much as he wanted to learn, he was always willing to share his knowledge with those willing to listen and learn. 

Born in Oklahoma, Hubert received his PhD from the University of Oklahoma.  He moved to his beloved New Orleans in 1954 where he was a geology and paleontology professor for 43 years at Tulane University.  He wrote articles and books in his field, as well as editing journals, but his favorite research subjects were stamps and postal history. 

Hubert once described himself as an avid student of classic nineteenth century U.S. stamps and postal history, particularly the postal history of New Orleans, New York City and the Confederate States of America.  He wrote extensively in these and other areas, most notably United States cancels and stampless cover markings.  In 1980, he co-authored with Amos Eno United States Cancellations 1845-1869 and was heavily involved for over two decades with the American Stampless Cover Catalog beginning in 1971.  His first important contribution to CSA postal history was published in 1978.  It was a plating study of the New Orleans postmaster provisional stamps.  His most important contribution in this area, however, was his thorough update of the Dietz catalog, published in 1986 along with longtime friends Erin C. Gunter and Warren H. Sanders as The New Dietz Confederate States Catalog and Handbook.   

Hubert exhibited at both the national and international level.  His New Orleans Postal History 1792-1860 received multiple international gold medals and his Civil War New Orleans exhibit received an international large gold medal.  His exhibits landed him in the APS Champion-of-Champions competition a dozen times and include the U.S. 1˘ Stamp of 1851-1856, the U.S. 3˘ 1851, U.S.-Canada Cross-Border Mails 1839-1870 and New York Postal History 1845-1876. 

Contributions to organized philately extended well over thirty years.  He was chairman of the Postal History Society of New Orleans, president of the Southern Philatelic Federation, director, vice-president and president of the Crescent City Stamp Club, treasurer and vice-president of the American Philatelic Society and trustee of the American Philatelic Research Society.  He was an active member of almost a dozen other philatelic organizations, including our own as #1366. 

This society honored Hubert in 1999 with the Haydn Myer Award for outstanding service, the August Dietz Award for outstanding research and writing on Confederate postal history in 1979 and 1986, the A. Earl Weatherly Award for exhibiting in 1986 and the CSA Trophy for the best and most comprehensive exhibit at the 1974 annual meeting.  He received numerous other awards, including the U.S. Philatelic Classic Society’s Stanley B. Ashbrook Cup and Distinguished Philatelist Award, and the APS Luff Award. 

Throughout all of Hubert’s philatelic travels, one event he looked forward to annually required only a short ride from his home.  Armed with a car load of some of his philatelic treasures, Hubert delighted in visiting with many collectors at the Happening in New Orleans.  The Happening will never be quite the same without my good friend.  VK

Billy P. Matz
1925-2008

   Billy Matz was truly a larger than life figure in the annals of Confederate collectors. I actually met Billy before he developed his passion for what he liked to call those mementos from the “lost cause.” Originally Billy was a US stamp collector whose all consuming purpose was to fill every space in the Scott National album—he even kept that page for the C3a in his album just in case. But, a funny thing happened on his way from the front to back of that book. He discovered the stamps of the Confederacy and his whole focus changed almost overnight. He quickly shifted from those little adhesives stamps to covers and soon discovered the postmaster provisionals. In no time at all he was rubbing shoulders with virtually all of the collectors of his time as well as the major dealers and auctioneers. He befriended Bill Bogg, Jack Molesworth, Bob Siegel and the Weill brothers. And the feelings were mutual too.

   He became a frequent visitor to stamp shows throughout the country where he seemed to fit right in with the rich and famous as well as the ordinary.  Some did not know just what to make of this brash young man from down in Dixie, but they could not help but like him. I tend to think his distinctive southern drawl helped break the ice. He bought voraciously and began to exhibit and win awards at a time when few Confederate displays were seen at stamp shows. Despite a string of gold medals and grand awards his most coveted achievement was winning the CSA Trophy in 1967. He had already won a number of the other Alliance awards including the John Fox Award in 1966. In an odd twist of fate that was the last year it was given; it was Billy who led the vanguard to expose and expel Fox the following year.

   Billy made his real mark, however, with his collection of Memphis Provisionals. He frequently boasted, “I’m gonna buy ‘em all—every one of ‘em!” And thus he began a friendly competition of sorts with the likes of Weatherly, Simon, Kilbourne, Solomon and Everett. Then suddenly and without explanation in 1975, Billy consigned his entire Confederate collection to his friend Bob Siegel for auction

   The sale, however, did not deter his love and passion for the Confederate Stamp Alliance. Billy had held the combined office of Secretary-Treasurer back in 1966-67. Following his single term he was elected General Vice President 1968-69 and then was elected President in 1970-71. Following his presidency he was named an Honorary General in 1972 and an Honorary Life Member in 1999. His most satisfying service to the Alliance, however, was in his capacity as a member of the Authentication Committee. First asked to join this group in 1968 he went on to serve as Recording Secretary, Chairman and, finally, Chairman Emeritus until his death.

   His achievements in business, civic and church activities are equally impressive. Suffice it to say, however, he was most proud of his family life. He was devoted to his wife of 60 years, Betty and his two sons Randy and Rusty all of whom survive him.

   In closing let me just add that Billy was my personal friend and mentor. During the past 45 or so years he taught me everything he knew and much more.

                                                                                      Jerry Palazolo


Ron Tate (left) shown here with
President Ron Teffs in 2006

 Ron Tate
1944-2008
 
Where did my best friend go? Ronald R. Tate passed away on the evening of August 4, 2008, after a two year battle with cancer. He was born on March 18, 1944, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, son of Kenneth Tate and the late Anne (Wagner) Tate. Ron was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, Class of 1962. He also attended the University of Wisconsin, Manitowoc Campus.

Ron is survived by his wife, Ellen, daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Larry Joas of Cleveland, Wisconsin, son and daughter-in-law Scott and Donna Tate of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, four grand children: Rachel and Rebecca Joas; Ryan and Emma Tate; Father Kenneth Tate, and many family and friends. Ron joined the Confederate Stamp Alliance in 1969 and held the positions of Secretary, Northern Vice President, First Vice President, and President in 1998-1999. He was commissioned an Honorary General in 2000. He was awarded many exhibition awards with his great exhibit of Confederate Number 1’s and 4’s on cover. (This exhibit made its last appearance, by the way, at our convention this past July in Charlotte, N.C.) His greatest award was presented at Charlotte in July of 2008—the Haydn Myer Award, accepted by his father Ken, in Ron’s absence due to illness.

Ron’s loves of his life were his wife Ellen, Confederate stamp sollecting, their cabin in Northern Wisconsin, and his two dogs Hattie and Etta. He will be missed by myself and Rick Calhoun, the three of us comprising the "three R’s" who pretty much traveled to a great many of the C.S.A. functions together.

I know where my friend Ron is; he is in Heaven, talking Confederates, sipping mint juleps with all the other Colonels and Generals who proceeded him up the trail, Bless them all.

Gen. Roger H. Oswald

Edward B. Cantey Jr.
1921-2007
 The collecting community will miss Ed Cantey with his passing this past May. Those who knew Ed knew his kind manner, his love for the hobby and his affection for his wife, Carroll. Until Carroll’s death, if you saw Ed, you would see Carroll. They were truly partners in life and every aspect of it. At stamp shows, both would take a seat side by side at the dealers’ tables and review each cover together and comment on each.
Ed Cantey died Sunday, May 20, 2007 in the South Carolina Episcopal Home at Still Hopes. Born in Columbia , he was a son of the late Edward B. Sr. and Helen Robertson Cantey. He attended Columbia city schools and was a 1942 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in chemical engineering. Serving as a commissioned officer in the Navy during WWII, he studied meteorology at the University of Chicago . He later received a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Employed for more than thirty years with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, he was director of the pilot plant and had retired from the legal department.
Upon his retirement, Ed returned to his home town of Columbia , South Carolina and elevated his interest in postal history collecting. Ed assembled the largest collection of South Carolina Confederate stampless covers ever assembled until it was sold intact to another collector. Ed also collected Columbia , SC, postal history and won numerous gold medals for his exhibit of mail to and from Columbia . In 2002, he was presented the CSA’s President’s Trophy for his exhibit. Before his death, Ed expressed his love for the hobby by donating one of the largest cash gifts to the Alliance to fund the work on the Confederate States Catalog and Handbook.
Ed and Carroll will be missed at future stamp shows, however, their love for the hobby will live on forever.
                                        By General Tony L. Crumbley
 

Gordon Bleuler 1917-2007

A long life lived well in philately. Born in Muscogee, OK. in Jan. 1917. Gordon became an advanced stamp collector when by the age of 15 he was invited to be a founder of the Oklahoma Philatelic Society in Tulsa, holding Charter Member # 8. In 1940, Gordon sold his extensive U.S. Commemorative stamp collection in order to make a down payment on a new home in Dallas, TX. Gordon then began new collections of U.S. Postal History with specialization in Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Texas, Florida Confederate States, Hawaii, Alaska and all Western States. His Civil War postal history both Northern and Southern is well known. Gordon may have been inspired by the well known Oklahoma Humorist Will Rogers' famous saying that "He never met a man he didn't like" to Gordon's saying that "He never met a collector that he didn't like".
Gordon was a contributor to various philatelic books, frequently wrote articles for various publications, talked to Clubs and Societies and presented many award winning Postal History exhibits. His foreign collections included stamps and covers of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan and French Antarctica.
Gordon was also an artist in that he hand illustrated many of the pages in his Exhibits. Gordon also created a one of a kind group of hand drawn Texas Sesquicentennial envelopes for the 1986 event.
On a personal note, Gordon and I met in 1978. He became my mentor in collecting U.S. 19th Century Postal History. Gordon always had a smile, a great sense of humor and his many friends became my friends as well.

Col. Jim Doolin

 

Wilson Hulme II
1946-2007
CSA life member Wilson Hulme died of a heart attack on January 10, 2007. In his 60 short years, Wilson had three careers and became a world class philatelist and postal historian.

Hulme, born in Dallas in 1946 and raised in Ardmore, OK, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 and received a master's from Michigan State in 1969. He then served in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear submarine officer until 1976. After earning an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978, he worked in the food service industry for Frito-Lay, Unilever and Nabisco until 2001. In 2002, he accepted his dream job as the first Curator of Philately at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum (NPM) in Washington, DC. He served as host for a CSA dinner meeting at the museum and personally conducted special vault tours for our members during our meeting at NAPEX in 2005.

After joining the CSA in 1976 as member #2015, Wilson became life member #33 when that was offered as an option. He was also a life member of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, being honored by them as a Distinguished Philatelist in 2003. He was president of the society when he died. He was a member of many other clubs and societies, including the Collectors Club of New York and the Royal Philatelic Society of London, where he became a fellow in 1992.

In the hobby, Wilson specialized in early stamp separation techniques and equipment. He was a thorough researcher and cataloger with an outstanding collection in the area, including both official and unofficial separations on U.S. and C.S.A. stamps. He served as an expertizer for the American Philatelic Society and the Philatelic Foundation, as well as an outside expert for our society. He was also the private perforation section editor for the CSA Catalog currently being written by Alliance members.

At the NPM, Wilson was successful in allowing us to "access the inaccessible," his mantra, by bringing exhibits such as a portion of the Queen Elizabeth II collection and the Benjamin K. Miller collection to the museum. His desire was to make the NPM the center of the philatelic universe, as well as a resource for philatelic research. This included enhancing the National Philatelic Collection and expanding access to all of the museums artifacts.

Wilson will be missed by his many friends, but his positive and long term impact on the hobby will be difficult to duplicate.

Van C. Koppersmith
 

Vernon S. Stroupe, Jr.
1927-2006

Since early childhood, Vernon had an unquenchable thirst for philatelic knowledge. This desire and willingness to share with others has added much to the hobby. On March 21, 2006, Vernon lost his battle with leukemia which he had fought for over two years.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, he was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served as a life deacon. He wrote the history of the church. He attended Davidson College and Asheville-Biltmore College, now UNC Asheville, and completed two years of photographic trade school at the Archer School of Photographic Arts in California. He joined the U.S. Air Corps in 1944 and was transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. He served until 1946.

After military service, Vernon returned to California and began his profession within the photographic industry where he worked from 1949 to 1974. During this time, he pursued his philatelic interest as a general U.S. collector until he discovered Perfin in the early 1960's. He assembled quite a large collection of Perfins. Just before he moved back to North Carolina in 1974, he purchased a collection of North Carolina postal history. This would set the stage for his passion over the next 32 years.

Vernon began his second career as a furniture representative taking over his father's furniture sales district covering North Carolina, South Carolina and later Virginia. His travels with this career allowed him to do considerable research on the postal history of North Carolina. In February 1982 he became one of the 17 founding members of the North Carolina Postal History Society. He would later serve as president of the organization. In 1989 he became the co-editor of the N.C. Postal History Journal. Throughout his tenure he produced 64 issues. He was working on the last issue when he was taken to the hospital for the last time.

As chief editor of the four volume "Post Offices and Postmasters of North Carolina" published in 1996, Vernon became the foremost authority of North Carolina postal history. No other states published work can compare to the thoroughness in this work.

Vernon was a member of the APS Perfin Society and the Confederate Stamp Alliance as well as other state and local philatelic organizations.

With the closing of his albums, a true friend to the hobby has been lost. The knowledge gained from his research is, however, preserved for future generations thanks to his desire to publish all he could.

                                                                   By Tony L. Crumbley

Gen. Jack Solomon
1921-2006
 General Jack Solomon passed from this life to the next on Friday, January 20, 2006. He had been battling kidney disease, among other ailments, for some time. Jack joined the Alliance in 1955 and was CSA member #869 for over 50 years, over half of that with the rank of "General", which was conferred on him in 1974.
When I first began in Confederates, Jack was in his prime of collecting and exhibiting. In 1970, when I began co-editing the Confederate Philatelist, Jack was the Secretary-Treasurer. He lead the CSA as President from 1972-73 with particular zeal. Some of my earliest Alliance memories were of manning CSA hospitality tables with Jack, Bob Werner and Etta Jurissen. Jack was passionate about recruiting members and had the distinction of attaining the highest ever number of members under his leadership - over 800. His phenomenal Confederate exhibit won most of the available CSA awards of the time and stomped the competition nationally. He won 6 Grand Awards from 1956 to 1971, culminating with the ultimate pinnacle, the APS Champion of Champions at SOJEX in 1971. He also won 5 Reserve Grands, as well as many other national and specialty awards over a 25 year span.
Jack was born in New York City and starting collecting when he was only 10 years old, first as a general collector, later specializing in U.S. and Great Britain and Colonies. It was 23 years later in 1954 at an ASDA show that he saw Confederate stamps at Raynor Hubbell's booth. As Jack told it, "I was flabbergasted when I saw these stamps. Always a history buff, I found myself holding actual mementoes of an era that continues to fascinate historians and students of the period. I was converted instantly." A more dedicated Confederate Yankee was not to be found.
 Jack, an optician by trade, was married to Sylvia Solomon for over 40 years and is survived by his second wife, Beatrice, as well as his two children, Lois and Stanley, plus two grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 3 siblings. In later years, he retired to Delray Beach, Florida from Long Island, NY.
 My late husband, John, and I had the privilege of selling his phenomenal collection in November 1981. It was one of the best Confederate collections we ever handled, with rarities across the board. The most memorable to me were the Southern Letter Unpaid on a college corner card cover, which sold for $28,600, and the only "used" 1˘ Orange, Scott #14, - actually an adversity cover made from a partial sheet of the 1˘ stamps, which were never placed into use. That, of course, is a very well documented and written up cover. Pedigrees abounded in the collection, which was chock full of rare provisionals, patriotics and other wonderful usages that were a pleasure to write up.
 Jack dropped out of the CSA scene for a time, but in recent years he enjoyed several CSA conventions before his health precluded his attending. We traded several letters during the last few years, which were full of memories of the "old days". He never got used to calling me "Trish", as I grew up and went by "Patty" when we first met in the late 1960's. I switched to "Trish" about 1973. There are very few that I have not retrained to call me "Trish" over the years, but he was one of them.Those of us who were around 30 + years ago remember his enthusiasm and energy well. He will be missed.
                                                                     Trish Kaufmann