Services were held for Jim Swafford Saturday, July 28 at Valley Funeral Home in Burbank California. The Chapel had an overflow crowd. The seating area was expanded by removing room dividers and it remained SRO with people standing in the hallways. It was a diverse group, with probably every ethnic group represented and many walks of life and all age groups. It was remarked that it was unusual for someone of Jim’s age to have more than a handful of mourners. Jim was known to have helped many people with money, advice, running of errands, information and most of all his smiling, laughing friendship. He was “circus central” for all of us in Southern California. He knew where all the shows were, because he was a friend with all the acts and all the owners. He was the showmen’s friend and an asset to us all.
Joe Baker of LBS Rentals gave a moving two-handkerchief tribute. After the service Joe provided dinner, and we all traded Swafford stories
I don’t remember when I first met Jim thirty or forty years ago, but I do remember when my daughter Sarah first met him. We went to see Vargas at the Hollywood Bowl and she said “Look Dad that man is rolling donuts to the elephants!” We joined him and we all rolled donuts to the elephants. Someone ratted us out to Cliff. We could hear his response through the screen door of his trailer. “Oh that’s just Swafford. Tell him I want to see him.” “Are we in trouble?” asked Sarah. “Nah”, said Jim,” come on let’s go see the boss.” That was Jim--welcome in every body’s back yard.
Jim had a girlfriend once who told us that she thought Jim had seven distinct personalities. It became a running joke throughout the years. My daughter Sarah said that he needed seven personalities just to hold all the positive energy that he had. She may have been right. The amount of positive energy that has left us is at least seven times greater than that possessed by your average man.
James Earl Swafford was born in Topeka Kansas March 13,1931. He passed away on July 18,2012 in Burbank California. He will be missed. |
2 comments:
What a great guy.
First met Jim Swafford close to forty years ago at Niagra Falls, Canada while he was visiting with Gene Michon, Tiger trainer extrodinaire, during the shows at Marineland & Gamefarm produced by John Cuneo for John Holer in the
70's. He was always up beat and fun to visit with. Will sure miss our west coast friend. Also a great show fan. One time I saw him walking around the floor with Debbie Reynolds of the "Singing in the Rain" fame at the Las Vegas show convention. He later told me he had went to school with her when they were youngens.The last time I saw Jim was at our daughter's wedding Dec. 2008 in Dallas Tx. A true Gentleman.
The first time I met Jim was the year before JC Hall mentions. Hawthorn was wintering at the Great Western Exhibition Center in those days, and Jim used to stop in once a week with donuts for all the men. Never got in the way, and was always so helpful. He hooked up with Michon 6 months later when the cat's were moved to a different fairgrounds, when the rest of us went back on the road, and assisted Mr. and Mrs. Michon greatly getting around Calif. He introduced Michon to Sigfried and Roy. Echoing James C. Hall, a true gentleman.
Wade Burck
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