LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life of Munchkin Clarence Swensen
upon the occasion of the tribute honoring his memory on June 7, 2009, in
Chittenango, New York, during Oz-Stravaganza! 2009

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to mourn publicly the
death of cherished citizens of the State of New York; though not from
New York, Clarence Swensen, through his role as one of the Munchkin
soldiers in the 1939 "Wizard of Oz" movie has enhanced the lives of New
Yorkers for 70 years and will continue to do so for time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, Chittenango, New York, known as the birthplace of "Oz," is
the home of author L. Frank Baum, whose most famous book, WONDERFUL
WIZARD OF OZ, was made into the timeless MGM classic "Wizard of Oz,"
which continues to be enjoyed by young and old around the world; and
WHEREAS, Not only has Chittenango made a home for the L. Frank Baum
Museum and all things "Oz," it annually hosts a weekend-long festival,
originally known as Oz Fest, and for the past many years as Oz-Strava-
ganza!; and
WHEREAS, Oz-Stravaganza! 2009, to be held June 5-7, 2009, will cele-
brate the 70th Anniversary of the "Wizard of Oz" and the 100th Anniver-
sary of L. Frank Baum's book, ROAD TO OZ, and, on Sunday, June 7, 2009,
will feature a fitting tribute to Clarence Swensen, a frequent and
welcome visitor to Chittenango and participant in several Oz-Stravagan-
zas!, honoring him and celebrating the Village of Chittenango's desig-
nation of Tuesday, December 29, 2009, the anniversary of his birth, as
August "Clarence" Swensen Day; and
WHEREAS, Clarence Swensen was born on December 29, 1917 and grew up in
Austin, Texas; and
WHEREAS, At 4'6" tall, he was made for the role of a Munchkin soldier;
he got his start in show business in 1936 with the Stanley Graham All-
Midget Circus and then appeared, playing seven different characters, in
the 1938 all-midget western, "Terror of Tiny Town"; and
WHEREAS, In 1939, his next, and best known, role was as one of the
Munchkin soldiers in "Wizard of Oz," after which he went on to have a
role in "Tarzan Finds a Son", and to appear on "Entertainment Tonight,"
the TV special "Memories of Oz," "I Married a Munchkin," "We're Off to
See the Munchkins", and many other programs, and traveled to many Oz
Festivals, in addition to Chittenango's Oz-Stravaganza!, throughout the
United States, sharing his story about the making of the famed movie and
his part in it; and
WHEREAS, In time, he left the entertainment business and, during World
War II, served as a civil service radio technician at Kelly Air Force
Base in San Antonio, Texas; later in his career, Clarence Swensen worked
and eventually retired as an electronics technician at the University of
Texas Balcones Research Center; and
WHEREAS, In June 1945, Clarence Swensen married Myrna Clifton, who
will attend Oz-Stravaganza! 2009 just as she did so many others; they
shared 63 years together until his death on February 25, 2009, at the
age of 91, and raised three daughters and had several grandchildren and
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, To the people of Chittenango, Clarence Swensen became a dear
friend and family member over the many years he attended Oz cele-
brations; he never failed to thank his fans and always maintained it was
their love of the movie that made it the timeless classic it has become;
his ever present smile, energetic step, and loving hugs will be remem-
bered forever; and
WHEREAS, Clarence Swensen believed in the celebration of life and this
Legislative Body, on behalf of all the citizens of Chittenango and the

State of New York is proud, in memory and friendship, to celebrate his;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life of Munchkin Clarence Swensen upon the occasion of the
Village of Chittenango tribute honoring his memory on June 7, 2009,
during Oz-Stravaganza! 2009, and to commend the people of Chittenango
for helping to keep the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" alive through Oz-Stra-
vaganza! and many other ways; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Clarence Swensen's beloved wife, Myrna Swensen, the Village
of Chittenango, and to Oz-Stravaganza! 2009.