Bud Sellers

F. Burton "Bud" Sellers became the fourth two-time winner of the American Philatelic Society's Luff Award Saturday evening, when he was invited to sign the scroll for Service to the APS. He had previously won for Exceptional Contributions to Philately.

Previously-announced 1998 Luff winners were Varo E. Tyler for Research and Raymond Weill for Exceptional Contributions to Philately, but Sellers was a surprise.

Flanked by fellow previous Luff Award winners Clyde Jenkins and Bud Hennig, Bud Sellers signs the Luff Scroll, considered the highest honor granted by the American Philatelic Society.

"It's been a pleasure to serve the Society," he said, and then, as he choked up, continued, "and I'm so thankful for this recognition."

Sellers was one of a dozen past Luff winners on the stage when his award was announced, and fellow laureate Bud Hennig leaned over and said to him "You're no longer 'Bud Light.'"

In reading Sellers' philatelic resume, Luff Committee chairman Bill Bauer stopped in the middle to ask, "How did Texaco ever get any time out of you?" a reference to his former employer.

Sellers is presently running for the presidency of the International Philatelic Federation (FIP), with the backing of the U.S. national federation, the American Philatelic Society.

Herb Trenchard

Herb Trenchard of Maryland was named to the APS Writers Unit 30 Hall of Fame at the Unit's breakfast during STAMPSHOW '98.

Trenchard is the APS Historian, a member of the APRL Board of Directors, and a docent of the National Postal Museum's philatelic library. He is also currently Vice President of the American Ceremony Program Society (ACPS).

According to Delphi member Foster Miller, "His major area of interest is anything relating to stamp shows or stamp dealers. Herb has written on early stamp ceremonies and stamp dealers. He won this year's AFDCS Ward Award for his series of articles on the first day ceremonies for the 1940 Famous American series, which is currently being serialized in THE CEREMONIAL, published by the ACPS.

"He is the most knowledgeable person around on the stamp shows, dealers, and ceremonies of the past 50 years. Most of his articles are the result of original research in the archives of the USPS, National Postal Museum, and the American Philatelic Research Library.

"I have learned a great deal from his articles and seminars."

Text and Photos © 1998 by Lloyd A. de Vries