Publishing Giant John H. Johnson Honored

U.S. Postal Service's Black Heritage Forever Stamp Salutes Legend

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Feb 02, 2012, 02:11 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the nation's highest honors today was presented to pioneering entrepreneur and publisher John H. Johnson who was commemorated on this year's Black Heritage Forever Stamp by the United States Postal Service.

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Johnson, the founder of Johnson Publishing Company of Chicago, which publishes Ebony and Jet magazines, is the 35th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series. The Postal Service has recognized the achievements of prominent African Americans through the Black Heritage series since 1978. Past honorees have included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Barbara Jordan.

"John Johnson's unyielding commitment to journalistic excellence and his unparalleled reporting on African American culture have distinguished him as one of America's greatest publishers," said USPS Chicago Senior Plant Manager Anthony Vaughan.

"I'm immensely proud that my father and his life's passion are being recognized in such a high honor as the Black Heritage Stamp," said Linda Johnson Rice, chairman, Johnson Publishing Co. "His legacy lives on in all whom he touched and in the work we continue to do daily." The stamp goes on sale today at Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.

Customers may view the John H. Johnson Forever Stamp, as well as many of this year's other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service's online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes.

Follow USPS on Twitter @USPS_PR and at Facebook.com/usps.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service