Meet Bill Dixon
Bill, what is your job title and what do you do at the APS?
I am the Circuit Manager and Sales Associate. I make up almost all of the sales circuits that go out to our members, along with about 100 clubs. I oversee our inventory of 30,000+ books, and 2/3 of those are out in the mail at any given time. I also examine the books for misidentifications and forgeries. I write the "Forged or Genuine" feature on the website, where we show a forged stamp next to a genuine copy so people can determine which is which (with a clue, if necessary!).
How long have you worked for the APS?
I have been with the APS since 1981.
Do you have a fond memory about your time at the APS to share with our members?
I love being the grill master for our summer picnic. I've gone through several aprons . . . my main duty is to grill all of the hot dogs and hamburgers for anywhere between 30-45 people, on one grill on time - without burning anything.
Grill Master Bill cooking it up at the summer picnic.
Bill playing a round of croquet during the company picnic.
What is the best part of your job?
I enjoy interacting with those with the same hunger and passion for stamp collecting. A specific example of this is when I spent two hours at Indypex talking shop with Varro Tyler (author of "Focus on Forgeries").
Are you a stamp collector? If so, what do you like to collect?
I’ve been a stamp collector since 1959 when I found my grandmother’s Beginners album from the 1940s. When I started, I was interested in anything from overseas. I currently collect Wyoming County, PA, postal history and global fakes and forgeries.
What's something about you that people may not know?
I've been a Track & Field Starter for 45+ years. There have been times during larger meets, like the Big 10 Championships, when a coach or official has taken me to the side to ask a stamp question.
When someone asked you about stamps as a Track and Field Starter, what was the most unique question?
An official wanted to know what type of U.S. stamp he brought from his father's collection. It turned out to be a movie prop stamp.
What do you enjoy about APS/APRL members?
Most APS members want to learn more. When I taught my first Fakes and Forgeries course, I think I learned as much from some of my students as they did from me.
Bill Dixon will be on Stamp Chat March 24th at 3:00 PM. The meeting link is here.This article is an excerpt from the Meet Bill Dixon, Circuit Manager and Sales Associate-APS Cares article, published 8/16/20