Another longtime Whitman Publishing stalwart has retired - President Mary Burleson. Here's the press release. Sorry to hear the news, but we wish Mary the best of luck in her new career stage.
-Editor
Mary Burleson has retired after more than 23 years of distinguished
service as President of Whitman Publishing, capping a remarkable 38-year career with the Anderson
companies.
A native of Haleyville, Alabama, and an Alabama football fan for life, Burleson earned her Bachelor
of Arts from the University of North Alabama. She began her career with the Anderson News
Company in 1986, rising through the ranks to lead Whitman Publishing in 2001. She played a crucial
role in the recent acquisition of Whitman Publishing by CDN Publishing, ensuring a seamless
transition and operational continuity for associates in Florence, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Throughout her tenure, Burleson expertly steered Whitman through several significant milestones,
including H.E. Harris' acquisition of Whitman Publishing from St. Martin's Press, the relocation of
company headquarters, the purchase of the formerly named Baltimore Coin Show, and navigating
the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, she oversaw Whitman's acquisition by
CDN Publishing in November 2023.
Mary accepts the 2016 Elvira Clain-Stefanelli
Memorial Award for Achievement in Numismatics alongside Jeff Garrett, Senior Editor of the Red Book.
In a heartfelt message to her colleagues, Burleson reflected on her time at Whitman: "Thank you for
letting me be a part of your lives for the last 38 years. It has been a wonderful journey… I appreciate
the years of support during the highs and lows of the business and leave with a heart overflowing
with wonderful memories." She added, "…words like gratitude, thankful, happiness, indebtedness
come to mind, but none can fully express how I feel about my years at Whitman."
Under Burleson's leadership, Whitman released over 500 new titles and maintained the continuous
updating and record-breaking sales of key standard references like A Guide Book of United States
Coins and Handbook of United States Coins. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the
Whitman Coin & Collectible Expo, now Whitman Expos, as North America's premier coin and
currency show producer. Burleson was a familiar and respected presence at regional and national
conventions and worked tirelessly with the American Numismatic Association, the U.S. Mint, and
various organizations, writers, and researchers to advance the field of numismatics.
John Feigenbaum, President and CEO of Whitman Brands, expressed his gratitude for Burleson's
leadership, stating, "Mary has been a rock and leader for Whitman for so many years. We can't
thank her enough for her love and dedication to the organization and its people. One of the things I
noticed and admired very early on was the fact that Mary treated every associate like family." He
added, "Congratulations on a very successful career!"
In recognition of her contributions, Burleson was honored with the 2016 Elvira Clain-Stefanelli
Memorial Award for Achievement in Numismatics and was named one of Coin World's 100 Most
Influential People in Numismatics in 2022.
As she embarks on the next chapter of her career, Burleson will rejoin the Anderson family in a
leadership role at American Promotional Events, Inc. and continue her role as co-owner of KA
Display Solutions, LLC. with her husband Bob Burleson.
About Whitman Brands
Formed from the 2023 merger of the numismatic publishing powerhouses of CDN and Whitman,
Whitman Brands™ combines the revered titles of Red Book, Blue Book, 00 Greatest,
Cherrypicker's Guides, and an expansive line of folders, albums, and supplies, that have long
dominated the retail landscape with the pricing and data-rich expertise of Greysheet, Greensheet,
CPG, CDN Exchange, and the Banknote Book.
Whitman Brands offers a comprehensive and rich coverage of collectibles, literature, cataloging and
pricing, which embraces the heritage of numismatics and seeks to enrich the lives of all coin and
paper money enthusiasts. As North America's leading producer of coin and currency shows,
Whitman Expos and its three industry leading events in Baltimore further enhance the brand
portfolio and expand the company's national reach.
Mary was always a breath of fresh air at the conventions where I frequently ran into her. "A rock" and "influential" aren't big enough words to describe her tireless behind the scenes contributions to the hobby. In light of her outsized role, here she is with Whitman's most outsized book. Good luck, Mary!
-Editor
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WHITMAN PUBLISHER DENNIS TUCKER RETIRING
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n06a07.html)
Wayne Homren, Editor
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.
To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor
at this address: whomren@gmail.com
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