MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY SOCIETY

TEXPEX 2002

Inquiries to:

Ed Dubin
P.O Box 586
Belleville, MI 48112

email

Updated: 3 May 2002

MPHS Convention at TEXPEX 2002

A great time was had by those members who attended the annual convention April 5-7 in Dallas. The lucky exhibitors' results appear at the end of this article. Many arrived Thursday since they were either mounting exhibits, or wanted to be on hand for the early morning board of directors meeting scheduled for Friday. That evening we engaged the hotel van to take us to a wonderful Mexican restaurant.

Board of Directors Meeting

At Friday's board meeting, Treasurer Norm Gruenzner reported a healthy balance on hand, and Secretary Bob Kinsley advised that, just like many philatelic societies, our membership total has slipped to 549. Another appeal will be made to those who did not re-up. Future convention locations were discussed. See the listing through 2007 elsewhere in this issue.

More MPHS publications are in the offing. A short booklet on WW I Army Air Service will be printed later this year as well as the PT book. The CB book is awaiting more archive research and should be completed next year. Also early next year we should see Russ Carter's next volume of the APO series on the Navy and Marine Corps. Additional possible publications were also discussed.

Other items on the agenda included a membership list (not to be printed for security reasons), dues (no change except deletion of the early renewal discount), tax deductible donations (renewal form to include a line for this), website guidelines, and the desperate need for a new MPHS logo (those with graphics skills take note!). Friday evening, Al Kugel led the troops to the North Main Street Bar-BQ in Euless for a great Texas repast.

Membership Meeting

President Myron Fox called the meeting to order at 1 PM on Saturday. Each attendee introduced him/her self. Two awards were presented. Past President Jim Boyden presented the Literature Award for the best article to appear in the 2001 issues of the Military Postal History Society Bulletin to Illinois postal historian Dr. Harvey M. Karlen. His article, "Fort Sheridan, Illinois: Its Origins and Postal History" appeared in the Winter 2001 issue, Volume 40 Number 1. The fort was established in 1887 and named for Civil War hero Lt. General Phillip H. Sheridan.

The MPHS Meritorious Service Award was then presented to Norman Gruenzner for his many years of outstanding service. Norm has been treasurer since 1992 and has not only authored articles and books in the military postal history area, but has helped other writers in this field as well. He ships the society's publications and has engaged in extensive research at various archives. His articles have appeared in our own journal as well as the Third Reich Study Group Bulletin. In 1979 the APS published Norm's book, Postal History of American POWs: World War II, Korea, Vietnam. He co-authored with George Cosentini the 6th edition of United States Numbered Military Post Offices Assignments and Locations 1941-1994.

Following these awards announcements, Director Al Kugel gave a talk on "American Military Mail Sent to Foreign Addresses in WW I & II," referencing two exhibits of such material that he had on the show floor. Later in the day, Myron Fox presented a separate slide program seminar on "WW II U.S. Occupation of Germany."

Exhibit Awards

In the single frame class, Al Kugel won vermeils for "APO Mail to Foreign Destinations," "Mail of the AEF to Foreign Destinations," and "The Boer Occupation of British South Africa 1899-1900." Another vermeil went to Jerome Kasper for "Illustrated WW II Military Airletters: India and Ceylon Commands."

In the multi-frame category, Kugel won a gold and the MPHS grand award for "American Intervention in the Caribbean 1906-1934." Another gold and the MPHS reserve grand went to Richard Wilson for "Postal History of the British Forces in Egypt and the Sudan 1882-1900." George Cosentini received a gold for "Origin and Development of V-Mail During WW II," and a silver for "U.S. Armed Forces in WW II: Selected Military Units and the Part They Played."

Alan Warren

FUTURE CONVENTIONS

2003
WESTPEX, San Francisco CA, April 25-27

2004
CHICAGOPEX, Rosemont IL, November

2005
Philatelic Show, Boxborough MA, May

2006
Washington 2006, Washington DC May 27-June 3

2007
INDYPEX, Indianapolis IN, July