Post office named for Ava Gardner

President Bush signed legislation to name office for award-winning actress

Albert Riethausen / AP

Ava Gardner visits with patients at the U.S. Air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany on Dec. 25, 1954. The Smithfield, N.C., Post Office is now the Ava Gardner Post Office.

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updated 2:21 p.m. ET March 22, 2006

SMITHFIELD, N.C. - The Smithfield Post Office is now the Ava Gardner Post Office.

President Bush signed legislation Monday to rename the post office in honor of the Oscar-nominated actress, who grew up in Johnston County.

“Ava Gardner was a small-town girl who became a big-time celebrity,” said Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., who sponsored the bill to rename the post office.

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“She represents the can-do attitude and patriotism of the people of Smithfield and Johnston County,” Etheridge said.

Gardner was nominated for a best-actress Oscar for 1953’s “Mogambo.” Her films also include “The Night of the Iguana” and “On the Beach.”

She had a series of high-profile marriages, to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra. The actress died in 1990, at age 67.