A 4-cent regular Great Americans Series stamp was issued in Boys Town, Nebraska, on July 14, 1986, to honor the birth centennial of humanitarian Father Edward Joseph Flanagan. Designed by Christopher Calle of Stamford, Connecticut, and modeled by Clarence Holbert, the single-color engraved stamp features a somber rendering of the gregarious priest.
Edward Joseph Flanagan was born in Roscommon, Ireland, on July 13, 1886, and moved to the United States in 1904 with aspirations for the priesthood. Eight years later, he was ordained a Catholic priest for the archdiocese of Omaha, where he embarked on a long and successful career as a humanitarian and educator.
In 1917, Father Flanagan's deep concern for needy youngsters prompted him to found Father Flanagan's Boy's Home, which evolved into the present Boys Town. For three decades, the energetic Flanagan directed Boys Town and provided troubled youths with much-needed love, understanding, and hope.
In 1947, General Douglas MacArthur invited Father Flanagan to Japan and Korea to serve as a consultant for youth programs. He died on May 15, 1948, while on a similar mission to Germany.
Today, Flanagan's legacy endures at Boys Town, where young men and women acquire vocational skills and develop strong moral and spiritual character through programs he inspired.
The stamp was engraved through the intaglio process by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and issued in panes of 100.
Reference:
Postal Bulletin (June 12, 1986).
