Selvig joins the ranks of people like the late U.S. Sen. Mike Mansfield of Montana and Linda Barnard, Missoula's first female postmaster, in having his own limited edition postmark and souvenir cachet envelope.
In Selvig's case, the recognition honors his 700th victory as coach of the University of Montana's women's basketball team, itself a rarity in collegiate sports.
“They just don't hand them out,” said Margie Snook, the Postal Service's supervisor of customer service, who had to apply two months ago to folks in Washington, D.C., for approval. “There's some special thought put into it.”
Selvig celebrated his 700th win at last Wednesday's game against Illinois at the Caribbean Challenge tournament in Cancun, Mexico. He now ranks seventh nationally among all-time active Division I women's basketball coaches for most wins.
From time to time, there have been special postmarks for local places and events, such as A Carousel for Missoula or the International Wildlife Film Festival, Snook said. Release of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial postmark was a nationally recognized event.
But here in Missoula, there have only been two postmarks in the past decade that recognized an individual's accomplishments.
In 2005, there was a postmark for Mansfield after Congress approved switching the name of the Mullan Post Office on Great Northern Avenue to the Mike Mansfield Post Office. There was also one made in 2006 for Barnard, Missoula's first female postmaster.
Postal carrier Roger Hutchens got the idea to honor Selvig with a postmark and souvenir envelope when the longtime women's basketball coach celebrated his 500th win about a decade ago.
Hutchens, an avid Griz fan, has kept the idea in mind ever since, even trying unsuccessfully to execute it 100 Lady Griz wins ago.
“This seemed like a perfect time,” said Hutchens, of Missoula, a season ticketholder who has missed very few Lady Griz games over the past 25 years. “He's like an icon. Selvig is such a neat person. I love the way he coaches and the way the girls play.”
The pictorial postmark features the Lady Griz logo with a photo stamp showing Selvig. The souvenir envelope celebrates Selvig's numerous record-setting accomplishments during 31 years as UM's head women's basketball coach.
The postmark is free and will be available at Sunday afternoon's home game against Boise State at 2 p.m. The special envelope is available at the same location, but costs $5.
After that, the souvenir envelope will be available at the main post office at 1100 West Kent Ave., while supplies last. The postmark is available at the same location, but only until Jan. 8, 2009.
However, the first 700 fans through the door of Sunday's game will receive a free souvenir envelope and commemorative postmark. The next 700 fans will receive free T-shirts, and the following 700 people will receive commemorative posters.
“It's a special tribute to Selvig and his talents,” said UM athletic director Jim O'Day, who praised the Postal Service for its interest in helping promote such a significant achievement. “Robin is probably embarrassed, but for UM it's a great thing.”
Also, UM is offering a special on tickets to Sunday's game. Any group of seven can purchase seven tickets in advance or on the day of the game for $7.
Can't go to the game? Customers can order the Selvig postmark by mail until Jan. 8. Just send pre-addressed, stamped postcard(s) and envelope(s), include them in a larger stamped envelope and mail to:
Coach Selvig's 700th Win postmark and/or souvenir envelope
1100 W. Kent Ave.
Missoula, MT 59801-9998
To order the envelopes at $5 each, send a check or money order in that amount payable to Postmaster, noting your return address.
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Carol Anne wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:25 AM:
One request: it's time your team dropped the "Lady" prefix to be just the Griz. "