Woman sets her mind on Phillips stamp

FLORENCE - When Liz Scott sets her mind to something, it’s most likely going to happen.

So when Scott says she’s going to get Sam Phillips’ likeness on a U.S. postage stamp, she probably won’t stop until it’s being sold.

Like most anything involving the U.S. government, she understands it will likely take some time before it happens.

Scott, 29, grew up in a house that was about a block from where Phillips once lived in Florence.

“I have an enormous respect for the family and everything that Sam did,” Scott said.

Phillips, who has been called the “Father of Rock ’n’ Roll,” helped launch the careers of such musical icons as Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Ike Turner, B.B. King and, of course, Elvis Presley.

Phillips was also the founder of the world famous Sun Recording Studios in Memphis, Tenn.

Phillips died in July 2003 at the age of 80.

Noted music writer Peter Guaralnick said of Phillips, “he was a man of vision and principle, both social and aesthetic, who sought to overcome the ingrained prejudice of his time and place.”

Scott said she started her campaign for a Phillips stamp in September 2005.

“I wrote a letter to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee in 2005,” Scott said. “It’s just now getting a lot of momentum.”

According to the U.S. Postal Service’s Web site, it’s the responsibility of the 15-member Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to evaluate the merits of all stamp proposals, which are submitted to the committee in writing.

Scott said she has collected 6,012 signatures on a petition to help get the postal service’s attention. The total includes 854 signatures on the Web site “GoPetition,” an international online petition hosting portal.

Scott has placed notebooks for people to sign at Sun Studios in Memphis and Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo, Miss. She intends to have a booth at this year’s Elvis Presley Festival in Tupelo in June.

Scott said one reason she started this drive was because of her enormous passion and respect for Phillips and his family.

“He and I were born in the same Alabama town, and he never forgot his hometown roots,” said Scott, who is the president of the Alabama Fans TCB for Elvis Fan Club, an Elvis Presley fan club.

Jerry Phillips, the youngest son of Sam Phillips, said it was Scott’s idea to pursue the postage stamp recognition.

“She’s working hard at it,” Phillips said. “She is pretty persistent.”

While Scott still has to get the approval of the stamp committee and postal service, she has received the support of Florence Mayor Bobby Irons and Gov. Bob Riley.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the legacy of Alabama native Sam Phillips and his profound influence on the world of music,” Riley stated in a news release. “Sam Phillips’ legacy and musical contributions will undoubtedly continue to inspire performers and music lovers for generations to come.”

Irons agreed with the governor’s assessment of Phillips’ contributions, his influence and his inspiration of millions of people around the world.

“Sam Phillips was our native son who gave his life to creating and producing wonderful music,” Irons said.

Jerry Phillips said Scott also worked with the U.S. Postal Service about issuing a Sam Phillips postage cancellation stamp in 2005 during the first Sam Phillips Music Celebration.

He said she also has been distributing petitions at Graceland, Presley’s home in Memphis.

“It’s difficult to get a stamp named after you,” Phillips said.

If the stamp is approved, Scott said the postal service would commission an artist to create the artwork for the stamp. Scott said the Phillips family would be consulted about whether they would prefer a younger or older likeness of their legendary father.

“I’m really pushing this,” Scott said. “Once I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”

Postal service spokesman Mark Saunders said the committee receives about 50,000 inquiries about stamp subjects and designs annually, but many could involve the same subject. He said there are only about 20 new stamp subjects selected each year.

The postal service, relying on the committee’s recommendations, ultimately decides which subjects will be featured on commemorative stamps.

A person must have been deceased for five years before they can be considered for a commemorative stamp, Saunders said.

While a petition is not necessary to submit a stamp idea to the committee, Saunders said it can help get the committee’s attention.

“The power of the pen goes a long way, I’ll say that,” Saunders said.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.