Karen Nielsen Lorence 2020-09-17 00:57:21
Although it took 40 years to become a reality, the United States Postal Service issued a 15-cent embossed bee envelope exactly 40 years ago this October, calling attention to the vital importance of the honey bee to the people of the country. It was originally the work of Carl Killion, who was the Chief Apiary Inspector for the State of Illinois for 32 years. He, along with his son Gene, owned and operated the Killion Apiaries in Paris, Illinois.
For over 40 years, Carl Killion was a tenacious warrior in his attempt to get the honey bee recognized for the enormous service it provides. Carl wrote letters to Presidents, Senators, Representatives, Governors, the Postmaster General, the United States Postal Service, American Farm Bureau, National Wildlife Federation, and National Audubon Society to aid him in his endeavor. Every letter was answered with a similar response: “Your request for a honey bee stamp is on the agenda of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.”
Carl’s health began to fail in 1976 and that is when he asked his son Eugene to carry on the campaign for the stamp. Gene was well aware of his father’s efforts, but he had another line of attack. He had a friend and colleague in the Illinois Department of Agriculture who, in turn, was a friend of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland of Minnesota. A few days later, Secretary Bergland happened to stop in Paris, and Gene was able to talk to him. He found out that the thousands and thousands of letters that are written requesting stamps are never seen by the Postmaster General and that it was necessary to have a cabinet member submit the request. Fortunately, Secretary Bergland wrote the letter to the Postmaster General requesting the stamp, and got results!
It was on June 22, 1979 that Mr. Killion received the call from the United States Postal Service saying that the Advisory Committee recommended that a commemorative embossed envelope honoring the honey bee would be issued in 1980. Gene rushed to the hospital to tell his father the good news. Carl passed away two days later, knowing his dream would finally be fulfilled.
That decision set in motion the planning and preparation for the design and implementation of the first day envelope. Artists’ sketches were submitted and one was selected. The site for the first day of issue had to be decided. Many cities, states, and organizations vied for the site but Gene’s suggestion that the only logical place for issue was Paris, Illinois, was ultimately confirmed!
Paris went into high gear immediately! October 10, 1980 was selected as the issue date and it just happened to be the Fall Festival as well as Homecoming for Paris High School. The town’s population was about 9,000, and 2,000 people were expected to attend. A huge parade and ceremony were planned. The Illinois State Beekeepers Association planned their fall meeting in Paris that year to coincide with the stamp’s issue. Featured speakers included G.C. Walker from Walker Apiaries in Texas; Dr. Elbert R. Jaycox from the University of Illinois; Charles Dadant from Dadant and Sons in Hamilton, Illinois; John Root from A.I. Root Co. in Medina, Ohio; Dr. Norman Gary from University of California-Davis; Dr. H. Shimanuki from the USDA Bee Lab in Beltsville,Maryland; and Dr. Eric Erickson from the USDA Bee Lab in Madison, Wisconsin. With the exception of national conventions, there probably has never been a more impressive lineup of bee professionals at one event!
Paris continues to host the Honey Bee Festival yearly in October, commemorating both the issuance of the stamp forty years ago as well as the stellar Killion family that brought fame to the small community. Although Illinois is not particularly known for being a large honey producing state, Carl’s and Gene’s untiring work succeeded in getting the commemorative envelope dedicated to our hard-working pollinator.
For those who know little about philately (the hobby of stamp collecting), a First Day Cover is an envelope or card bearing a stamp which is cancelled on the day the stamp is initially placed on sale by the postal authorities. First day covers are collectable and often provide a gratifying hobby for those involved. In 1980, the honey bee embossed envelope First Day of Issue sold over 150,000 before opening day and 25,000 were sold over the counter on opening day.
Gene Killion followed in his father’s footsteps as State Apiary Inspector for eighteen and a half years. He was a featured speaker this year at the American Beekeeping Federation convention in Schaumburg, IL. He is facilitator for a program that Marriott International has initiated with beehives at hotel sites around the country. Gene will be turning 97 in October of 2020.
Karen Lorence and her husband Charles of Aurora, IL have been beekeepers since 1971. At one time they kept 150 hives. As teachers, they had summers free and their hobby turned into a thriving business. Today they manage hobby hives in Wisconsin and Illinois and sell honey and value-added products. They teach classes in beekeeping, offer seminars at community colleges and arboretums, write for a professional beekeeping magazine, and do presentations to garden clubs and special interest groups. Their honey and beeswax products have been awarded special honors on both the state and national level.
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