Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

 

WHEREAS:   Clyde Leon Bysom was born October 13, 1917 in Adrian, Missouri and moved to Lawrence in 1925, where he began clarinet lessons at the age of nine and joined the Lawrence Boys Band in 1929 at the age of twelve; and

 

WHEREAS:   A graduate of Lawrence High School and lifelong student at the University of Kansas, Mr. Bysom was an accomplished musician and bandleader, playing saxophone, clarinet, and various other instruments while composing and arranging music; and

 

WHEREAS:   As a junior at Lawrence High School, Mr. Bysom began to organize combos and dance bands to play at the University  of Kansas and local events and joined the KU Band in 1936; and

 

WHEREAS:   During World War II, Mr. Bysom enlisted in the Army Air Forces and served as a corporal and B-29 Superfortress tail gunner in the 393rd Bombardment Squadron (509th Composite Group) and while stationed on Tinian Island in the Northern Marianas, he found time for music as a member of the 509th Jazz Band and 313th Bombardment Wing Twentieth Air Force Band; and

 

WHEREAS:   Mr. Bysom passed away June 1, 2015 at the age of 97 and his last diary entry on May 15 stated “Ending my 85 years of blowing horns.  I have had a great long tenure though and am thankful for that.”

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Lawrence, Kansas, does hereby proclaim Saturday, July 18, 2015 as

 

“CLYDE BYSOM DAY”

 

in the City of Lawrence.

 

                                                                                                         

                                                          Jeremy Farmer, Mayor

 

                                                          July 14, 2015