In Memoriam – The Military Postal History Society

This web page is reserved for memorials to members and officers of the Society who have passed away.

Dickson Preston, 1940-2024

MPHS member and former American Philatelic Society accredited judge, Dickson Preston of Seattle Washington, died March 9 at age 83. One of his most recent exhibits was the APOs in Greenland. In addition to Greenland, he collected Denmark, Danish West Indies, Württemberg, German East Africa, commercial Zeppelin mail, the U.S. presidential (“Prexie”) series, Canal Zone, and the CIPEX souvenir sheet. He exhibited many of these collections.

Preston’s articles have appeared in the Posthorn, U.S. Specialist, American Philatelist, Air Post Journal, German Postal Specialist, and Canal Zone Philatelist among other journals. He served as former chairman of exhibits and judging of the Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs and was former exhibits chairman of SEAPEX. He was a retired professor from the University of Washington.

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Alan Warren

Michael D. Dixon, 1937-2024

Former MPHS member Michael Dixon died March 9, 2024 at age 86. He was an accredited APS chief judge for philatelic and literature exhibits, an FIP judge, and a member of the FIP Literature Commission. He exhibited nationally and internationally beginning in the 1970s. He held many responsible positions in organized philately but was best known as President and Board chairman of the Washington 2006 international exhibition.

Michael was a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London, served on its Council 1980-1983, and was a consultant to their expertizing committee. He held several positions on the board of the NAPEX show including show chairman. He was past president of the Latin American Collectors Club, and a vice president of the American Philatelic Congress. Michael served on several APS committees including CANEJ, Technology, International, a consultant to Expertizing, and also on the Board as director-at-large. He was Commissioner for the US to exhibitions in Germany and the United Kingdom.

His collecting interests included GB King Edward VIII and Wilding issues, British Forces air mail letter cards and air letters of WW II, GB WWII POW air mail postal stationery, and Paris pneumatic mails among other subjects. His articles have appeared in the London Philatelist, American Philatelist, the Great Britain Philatelic Society’s Chronicle, Mainsheet, Filatelia Peruana, and the American Philatelic Congress Book. Following the Washington 2006 exhibition Michael relocated to Portland Oregon where he overhauled the APS World Series Philately show PIPEX and served as its general manager.

Michael Dixon was awarded the London Medal for service to the Royal Philatelic Society London. He was honored with the Northwest Federation’s distinguished philatelist award in 2015. In 2012 he received the APS John N. Luff award for exceptional contributions to philately.

He was born in London, obtained advanced degrees and worked for a scientific abstracting and indexing firm. He and his family moved to Maryland in 1982 to head the firm’s U.S. subsidiary, and he later served as a consultant to the U.S. government. Dixon is survived by his wife Carolyn, a sister, and two sons and their families.

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Alan Warren

Norman David Gruenzner (1938-2023)

George Cosentini, 1934-2022

George Cosentini of San Diego died December 15, 2022 at age 88. He joined MPHS in 1979 when it was known as the War Cover Club and held membership number 1694. George was one of the initial directors of the Military Postal History Society when it was incorporated in 1993 and from 1995-2000 he served as the MPHS Secretary and also chaired the Society’s post-World War II Study Group.

George was an expert on Army Post Offices (APOs) and exhibited V-mail. He was co-author with Norman Gruenzner of United States Numbered Military Post Offices: Assignments and Locations, 1941-1994, published in 1994.

In addition to the MPHS Bulletin, his articles appeared in The American Philatelist. George also served as a past chairman of SANDICAL, an APS World Series of Philately show.

Louis Reif (1925-2022)

Louis passed away in March, 2022, at the age of 97. He was an avid collector of WWII, Korean and Vietnam military correspondence covers.

Obituary at this link.

Alfred F. Kugel, 1934 – 2022

Al Kugel of Hinsdale, Ill, died May 10, 2022 at age 87. A Life Member of the MPHS, Al served our Society as a director, vice-president and president. At the time of his death, Al had the lowest membership number (434) of any active member.

Please go to the much more extensive memorial to Al, as created by members of the Society.

James Nelson Boyden, 1927-2020

Jim died on February 26, 2020, having been in poor health for the last several years. Jim was a past MPHS President, a great researcher and a wealth of knowledge. His collecting passion was WWI, particularly the AEF in BEF area. His two books on the AEF in the BEF are the standard for the subject. At the Portland show several years ago we presented Jim with his Outstanding MPHS Service Award. I enjoyed my time with Jim at our board meetings. We had a common interest in the WWI area. On one of our Alaska camping trips, Joy and I stopped by to visit with Jim and his wife and spent a pleasant afternoon with the two of them. He was a good friend and a great member of the MPHS. We will miss him.

Ed Dubin

(Items by Jim, as listed on the MPHS website: US Air Service in the British Isles 1917-1919 and The AEF in the BEF )

Thomas Johnston (December 27, 2019)

There is an obituary for Tom at the funeral home website. In addition, our member Alan Warren has written a memorial to Tom.

Jack Congrove

I regret to report the passing of Jack Congrove, at Fort Lewis, Wash. Jack, a retired Army officer, was a sparkplug for the Northwest Federation of Stamp Clubs and the founder of its annual SEAPEX show. He was also active in the American Topical Association and other groups. He will be missed.

David Kent