Today is the birthday of Uncle Palmer, my mom’s only brother. I recently came across the eulogy his oldest son delivered at his funeral in December of 2010. I learned many things about this remarkable man at his funeral… a man of many gifts, and a life generously lived.
I’m Clayt Packard, the eldest of Palmer’s sons. Our dad, Clayton Palmer Packard, was born on April 26, 1925, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Clayton and Catherine Packard. He had one sibling, his adored sister, Mary. Dad’s parents were from South Dakota and Iowa, a very strong and solid Midwestern foundation. But his family heritage runs much deeper. It can be traced to the first settlers of our country, to the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock. John Alden, a founding member of the Plymouth Colony, was Palmer’s grandfather several generations back. He was so proud that our family was a member of the John Alden Society, and had a direct link to this important time in our country’s history.
There is even more significance to Palmer’s family tree: Dad’s grandfather, Preston Packard, was a settler of the west as well. After fighting in the Civil War as a drummer boy and soldier for the Union Army, he migrated to South Dakota, spending his very first days sleeping in a cave. But through hard work, and perseverance, he built a home and helped build the city of Redfield. He became a respected businessman, hotel owner, mayor, state legislator, and political peer to our 26th President, Teddy Roosevelt.
Eventually, Palmer’s family found themselves in Minneapolis, and that is where he grew up. His father was a banker who financed commercial equipment and was one of the founders of Culligan Water in the state of Minnesota. Palmer loved all of that, his life in Minneapolis, the lakes, streams, neighborhoods, the wonderful outdoors that was there to explore. He loved going to University of Minnesota football games with his Dad, always sitting on the 50 yard-line. The Gophers were good then, and Dad said the games at the old stadium were great, but the benches were icy, and the weather usually pretty cold. The friends he made as a boy became lifelong, and those relationships he really cherished. Summers took him back to South Dakota, helping his Uncle Frank with the family farm, the Packard Hotel, and the services offered at the hotel, like selling tickets to the Greyhound Bus.
Palmer attended Robert Fulton Grammar School, and Southwest High School. He was an excellent student. He loved after-school activities, especially participating in Track & Field. He was accepted to Amherst College and there he thrived. He majored in Economics, and made a lot of good friends. He was a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity, played college basketball as a 6-foot center and graduated in 1947.
Upon returning to Minneapolis after college, he reconnected with my mother, Dorothy Marguerite Stenson. Mom also went Robert Fulton and Southwest High, and their paths were destined to cross. They fell in love and married in 1950. They started their life living in a nice apartment next to their beloved Lake Harriet, and then later moved to Edina, Minnesota. Three sons quickly followed and their love blossomed. Mom and Dad were married for 60 years.
My father’s career in advertising started in Minneapolis with Campbell Mithun. He was an account executive traveling the west coast, marketing key products. The creative teams he was a part of launched the Hamm’s Beer Black Bear, the Pillsbury Dough Boy, and came up with the Hamm’s Beer jingle, “Land of Sky Blue Waters.”
Palmer was transferred to Hollywood in 1958, and Mom and Dad bought a house in Studio City. In 1963, Dad was offered a position with Campbell Mithun in either Dallas or back to Minneapolis, but he declined. Studio City had become home for all of us. Palmer then embarked upon a series of new and different careers which took him to some pretty exciting places. He studied acting and worked. He also became a writer and purchased the rights to certain novels, including one written by David Niven. Dad taught English for a time at Crespi High School right here in the San Fernando Valley. He was part of investment groups, apartments primarily. He also decided he wanted to try his hand at concert promotion. The Doors were one of the bands he worked with, and I remember going to one of their concerts as a family in San Diego at the ageless Balboa Stadium. It was pretty amazing; this was my dad’s show. He eventually became a partner of a production company called Project Films, which excelled in producing TV commercials.
But my dad’s true gift was his character, integrity, kindness, his interest in you, not himself, his ability to give back, and his commitments to the community. Palmer was a gentleman. Dad coached Little League baseball and youth basketball. One of his players became an NBA pro and college coach. He was one of the founders and creative director of the Studio City Park Players for 35 years. He was a member and president of the Studio City Park Advisory Board. Dad also developed the over-50 Tennis Program at the park and managed it for 10 years. He was a parishioner here at St. Francis for 52 years and became a Eucharistic Minister. Dad loved his community, whether it was here in Studio City, or in Minneapolis, his hometown.
Thinking of things he loved is easy. He loved my mother, my brothers and me, theater productions, jazz music—especially Louis Armstrong, tennis, the Wizard of Oz, the genius of the circus clown and the joy they brought to so many, but he especially loved his three grandkids, Clay, Courtney and Conner. He spent time with each one of them, always patient and kind to them. He was proud of them and their endeavors and always remembered each one’s current interest. He attended many of their activities, even though we lived in Washington, and he was always calling up to know what they were up to and how things were going.
Long before Harry Potter and Star Wars….. there was the Wizard of Oz. For a voracious little reader in Minneapolis, this was heaven. He bought every edition and read them through and through. He loved the story of Dorothy and the odd fellows she met along the way to Emerald City. All of them lacked what Palmer always had: intelligence, a heart, and especially courage… as he struggled with numerous health issues over his last years.
So… off you go, Dad. Off you go with the Wizard & Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion… Down that yellow brick road you go. You will be missed. We love you, Dad!
