Will Rogers Stamp Illustrator Visits Museum

Twenty-five years have passed and a first-class stamp now costs twenty-two cents more, but Jim Sharpe still remembers well the day his artwork of Will Rogers debuted in Claremore on the centennial of the celebrated humorist’s birthday. Jim and his wife, Ann, made a surprise visit to the Will Rogers Memorial Museum Thursday morning, Nov. 18, and viewed for the first time an oversized reproduction of the painting he created for the United States Postal Service in 1979. His illustration was featured on first class postage honoring Rogers on the one hundredth anniversary of his birth. The fifteen-cent stamp was one of a Performing Arts series released by the Postal Service over several years. Sharpe produced other artwork in the series, including illustrations of George M. Cohan and Douglas Fairbanks.       Sharpe, then living in Connecticut, was a special guest at the Will Rogers centennial celebration in Claremore on Nov. 4, 1979. As the creator of the Rogers commemorative stamp, he signed scores of stamped envelopes that day and even met the postmaster general, William Bolger. He also recalled meeting Will Rogers, Jr., Jim Rogers, and actor Joel McCrea. He especially enjoyed a visit with General Jimmy Doolittle, who recounted for Sharpe some of his famous exploits from World War II.       The Sharpes now live in Wichita Falls, Tex., where Jim continues a successful career as an illustrator and painter. His work is held at the Smithsonian Institution.