I first came to know our next award winner in 1950, when I was a senior at the University of Florida. That was 48 years ago, but this gentleman entered the hobby in 1933--65 years ago! Jack Bond still follows the bundles avidly and is active on occasion. He's had a distinguished career in amateur journalism--in both the American and the National--and his long-time interest has been more than helpful in both associations.
When Jack entered the NAPA in 1933, his name was the only one on the association's list from Florida. He was in high school, living with his parents on Jackson Street in Pensacola. Never a printer, he made his mark as a writer, whose essays were in demand by other publishers. But he soon began publishing The Southern Amateur as a literary journal, using Ralph Babcock as his printer for a number of issues. And his editorial commentary attracted interest as well.
Jack was part of the ``youngblood'' movement in the National, at a time when members in their teens were taking the lead in association affairs. Jack was appointed manuscript manager in his second year of membership, and he generated a torrent of manuscripts from writers, with a high percentage reaching publication.
The next year he was nominated for and elected to the National's vice presidency--and sparked a heavy stream of laureate entries in that capacity. He attended his first convention in 1937, riding a day-coach train from Pensacola to Boston. And he became a popular Southern delegate in the socializing during and after the convention.
That would be the first of a number of National conventions he has attended--including two he has hosted from St. Petersburg in the '70s and '80s. Jack joined the American back in the '50s and became a charter member of the Suncoast Amateur Press Society, better known as the SAPS. Marriage and raising a family had sidetracked The Southern Amateur for a number of years, but a revival issue was printed on a press of mine before I had mastered the art of getting a decent printing impression.
In his later period of activity he has been official editor and president of the National and secretary-treasurer, historian and second vice president of the American. He also has been a helpful convention committee member whenever we've hosted an AAPA convention in Tampa.
For 65 years of upholding the best in amateur journalism, we present this special plaque to Jack Bond.