Thomas J Alexander

Thomas was born on Feb. 8, 1926 in Roeland Park, KS to James and Nellie Alexander. While he lived an extraordinary life, he was very unpretentious and extremely generous to his family and friends. His unique sense of humor and wonderful stories will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. He was an Army Veteran of WWII. He graduated from KU, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1951. The University of Missouri awarded him a Master of Laws degree in 1964. He was a senior partner in the law firm of Kuraner & Schwegler. He practiced law in MO., KS, U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S Tax Court. Thomas was an instructor at the Law School of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. In the late 60’s, Thomas retired as Senior VP & Senior Trust Officer from Columbia Union National Bank and Trust Company. During that period, he graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Thomas was the National President of the Phi Kappa Sigma social fraternity and the President of the Phi Kappa Sigma Foundation. He was the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society President, consultant to The Philatelic Foundation and a member of the America Philatelic Society. He also served for many years as the Chairman of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum Council of Philatelists in Washington, D.C. Thomas was the author of the Simpson’s U.S Postal Markings, 1851-1861 and wrote numerous articles and books of the subject of philately and postal history, including the U.S Stampless Cover Catalog, the American Philatelic Congress Books. He also had a long-standing partnership with the Smithsonian and wrote the United States 1847 Cover Census, and The Travers Papers: United States Postal History and Postage Stamps: Official Records. His many philatelic awards and honors include the 1986 John N. Luff Life Achievement Award of the American Philatelic Society, the 2004 Smithsonian Institution Philatelic Achievement Award and the 2007 Alfred F. Lichtenstein Medal of the Collectors Club of New York.

Thomas is proceeded in death by his parents, brother Jack and nephews Michael and William Alexander. Thomas is survived by his sister-in-law Andrea Alexander of Overland Park; nephew John Alexander, numerous great nieces and nephews and long-time dear friends who were considered family, James and Deena Fisher. Contributions to PHI CAPPA SIGMA FOUNDATION