How the photo of Muhammad Ali chosen for his Forever Stamp symbolizes his legacy
The U.S. Postal Service officially unveiled a commemorative Forever Stamp honoring Muhammad Ali during a ceremony at the University of Louisville on Thursday.
Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Ali -- widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time -- was known for both his athletic accomplishments and his prominent activism. In addition to being a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, Ali was appointed as a UN Messenger of Peace in 1998 and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. He passed away in June 2016 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
The Muhammad Ali Center began a public awareness campaign in 2022 called "Get the champ a stamp." Commemorative stamps go through a rigorous selection and review process by the Citizen Stamps Advisory Committee that typically takes years. The quest finally came to fruition with an announcement on Monday.
At Thursday's ceremony, Lonnie Ali, his wife of almost 30 years, said, "He would have loved this moment for a much deeper reason. Because Muhammad understood what this stamp truly represents. Muhammad was a master communicator. He understood the power of words and the impact of messages we send out into the world almost every minute of the day. He knew that our words can wound and they can heal, they can divide, or they can unite."
Designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá, 22 million stamps have been printed for a one-time-only release. The stamps feature a 1974 black-and-white photograph of Ali with his fists in boxing gloves, looking directly into the camera.
"The photograph of him in his boxing stance reminds us of his unique athletic gifts, his lightning speed and deceptive power," said Ron Stroman, governor of the USPS and dedicating official of the Muhammad Ali stamps. "The alternating placement of his name recalls the bold topography of classic boxing posters, while also echoing the chant greeted him around the world, 'Ali! Ali! Ali!'"
At the ceremony, speakers emphasized Ali's altruistic nature and political courage, beyond his athletic accolades. More than 500 people attended the ceremony, according to a spokesperson for the Muhammad Ali Center.
Lonnie Ali said, "Muhammad was a champion inside the ring, but his greatest legacy was compassion, how he showed up for people every day ... This stamp will travel millions of miles. It will pass through countless hands, but it will quietly remind the world of a man who dared to believe that kindness could be powerful and that being in service to others could be heroic, but the greatest tribute we can offer Muhammad is not to admire him. It is to follow his example, to make our own mark, our own stamp on the world."
Added Stroman: "For the Postal Service, this is more than a stamp. It's a national thank you. It's a tribute to a man whose conviction, dedication, and spirituality continue to inspire."
ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
