John Wooden’s extraordinary and enduring contributions to college basketball and the athletic community worldwide were lauded during the United States Postal Service (USPS)’s dedication ceremony for the new stamp in his honour at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Wooden, often considered the greatest coach in American sports history, led the UCLA Bruins to a record-setting 10 national championships. His success on the court was unparalleled, and he is remembered for teaching his players how to achieve excellence on the court and in life.
The stamp features original artwork by Alexis Franklin, based on a photograph by Norm Schindler from the early 1970s. The image shows a portrait of Wooden looking intently beyond the viewer. The numbers on the two players’ jerseys, 4 and 10, evoke the Bruins’ four perfect seasons and the 10 national championships during Wooden’s tenure.
The event was held outdoors at the East Plaza of Pauley Pavilion, an arena located on the campus of UCLA. Speakers included basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played for Wooden’s Bruins during three consecutive championship seasons; Gene Block, chancellor of UCLA; Valorie Kondos Field, former head coach of the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team; and Christy Impelman, Wooden’s eldest granddaughter.