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The Full Petition Storyline
Petition to the United States Congress and the President of the United States,
To Nominate, Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr. (December 9, 1898 - March 20, 1979), to receive posthumously, the Congressional Gold Medal & Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Emmett Kelly, Sr, was born in Sedan, Kansas, December 9, 1898, to immigrant parents, Thomas Kelly and Mollie Schmick Kelly. Emmett remembered as the World Famous Circus Clown, "Weary Willie", of which he was the first pantomime, Tramp Clown which in turn developed into a new category for Clowning.
Emmett's father was the Section Foreman in Sedan, Kansas for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The Railroad would prove to become an integral part of Emmett's life.
In his autobiography, "Clown", Emmett reminisces about his early years living in Sedan and of him and his younger sister Sylvia, also born in Sedan, Kansas sneaking out and going downtown on Saturday evenings to listen to the band play at the Band Stand. He also tells of his first whipping given to him by his father after he was helped to climb down from a telegraph/telephone pole from where he was trying to walk the tight rope. Little did he know at the time, one touch of wire could have electrocuted him. This event was perhaps brought on after hearing about an act in one of the many Circuses that came to town and becoming a decisive influence on him later in life.
In September of 1905 Emmett's family moved to a farm his father had bought near Houston, Missouri where he went to school and learned to work hard while growing up. Emmett became interested in drawing so; his mother enrolled him in a correspondence school with Landon School of Cartooning and paid a dollar for each lesson.
Later when Emmett was old enough, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri to find work in cartooning. In his autobiography, he tells of his struggles getting jobs and how he ended up in Kansas working on the wheat harvest then down to Texas where he worked laying pipe for the oil fields. Emmett then returned to Kansas City and found work carving headstones. His first circus job was to work for a local circus painting their equipment, designing posters and banners.
Emmett dreamed of becoming a trapeze artist and soon took a job in another circus but found that he was limited in what he could do going forward. He then developed into a pantomime Tramp clown and designed his costumes and skits that would eventually make him famous while working for several various circuses.
Emmett's fame grew as the clown, "Weary Willie". In 1937 while performing with the Cole Brothers and Clyde Beatty Combined Circus in New York City, he was approached by Bernard Mills and invited to travel to England to present his acts. Emmett signed a contract with the Bertram Mills London Circus at the London Olympia for their 1938 winter season and was asked to return for the 1939 season, which he did. Therefore,
For demonstrating the most excellent qualities of our country and bringing the memorial performances through entertainment that has brought joy to millions of Americans and,
As an emissary through entertainment to Kings and Queens and Heads of state of Foreign countries, such as the Queen of Spain, Halie Selassie, Winston Churchill, and others. Bringing joy to millions of their citizens before the invasion of the Nazi forces into European countries at the onset of WWII (1937, 1938. & 1939),
For his humanitarian acts of comforting passengers and autographing a ship's postcard and drawing a sketch on a menu for Irene Ladd a student traveling with two student friends who had boarded in France. When asked, performed in costume for passenger and crew, while returning from pre-WWII Europe on the passenger ship SS President Roosevelt in August of 1939. (Emmett boarded the boat in England and noted in his autobiography, page 160, that a modal of a British PT boat was covered in canvas and latched to the ship at the ship's prow and accompanied by several English officers. The ship's Captian took an alternate route to avoid German submarines.),
For his acts of courage during July 6, 1944, Hartford Circus Fire in Hartford, Connecticut, by carrying buckets of water to put out fires and for caring for and helping panicked audience members, mostly women, and children,
For his kindness and consideration in 1945 while performing in Cleveland, Ohio, doing his cabbage routine on Christmas Day with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Stopping at young Ken Breakley and his mother, drawing a portrait and autographing it, then later visiting Ken's grandfather, Forest E. Wilson who was the legal advisor for the Grotto Circus based in Cleveland and was in the hospital,
For the numerous firsts, Emmett contributed to the art of Clowning worldwide.
During the war years, Emmett experienced the shortages, rationing, and the scheduling adjustments the circus was forced to live and work under in the United States. After the war things quickly begin looking up. So, the summer of 1946 he was happy to receive a letter of invitation from the Bertram Mills London Circus to return to England for the Christmas show that would start in December. He had promised to return and excepted the invitation. After the Ringling Brother's Circus closed, Emmett traveled to New York City to get his Passport and Visa updated and booked passage on the SS Queen Elizabeth before sailing in early December.
Emmett arrived at the port in England on the day the Bertram Mills London Circus was to open at the London Olympia. The docks were chaotic and finding a taxicab which he had to share was near impossible. After the couple Emmett shared the cab with had been dropped off, Emmett arrived at his destination and met with Mr. Mills, with only 15 minutes before show time. He didn't have time to stop off and buy a loaf of bread or a head of cabbage he uses in his act, a worker ran out and brought him a loaf of bread. He hurriedly made it to his quarters and put his costume on and applied his makeup. So on queue entered the arena.
Emmett was surprised at the astonishment of the people with some asking how was he able to get a whole loaf of bread. He continued working for the crowd as other acts performed. When done on the main floor Emmett headed up to the balcony to start there. He was shocked to see the more impoverished of the people's condition and dress. Some dressed in tattered cloaths almost as bad as his costume. When the children who had small bags of candy offered him a piece, he saw only three or four small pieces in their paper bags and pretended to take one out and eat it. After he passed by, the children looked in their paper bags then complain to their mothers, "He didn't take one!". Tears welled up in Emmett's eyes as a strong post-war culture shock began to reveal itself. It was not like when he was there in 1939, and each child wore new cloaths and had a box of mixed chocolates to offer him a piece.
After the circus closed that night, Emmett made his way to the quality hotel he had stayed in before. When he got to his room, the heat was off. He spent each night sleeping in his overcoat during his stay because of the coal rationing. Strict war rationing was still in effect, and Emmett was not immune. Alone in his room, he reflected at the condition of the people especially the children and that was the night, the clown cried as his heart went out to them in their suffering. The next day he registered to get his ration books.
The next morning, Emmett ordered breakfast and found the menu portions were much smaller and throughout his stay, he would continue to be hungry. He took a walk and saw more of the destruction the war had caused. Sometimes, Emmett would take taxicab trips around the city and saw more damage. On February 13, 1947, he boarded the SS Queen Elisabeth for the return voyage home, arriving in New York City around the 18th.
When Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr. retired from the Circus, he was hired in 1956 and served as the mascot for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York City. The team was affectionately called, "Dem Bums". In 1957 the team was sold and moved to Los Angeles, California becoming the LA Dodgers, and Emmett was hired as their mascot and made the moved with them. This move opened new doors of opportunities.
Including granting actress/comedian Carol Burnett the use of his famous skit, "Mystery Spot Light", which she developed into the Cleaning Lady skit on her television program which Emmett was a featured guest for a couple of shows.
Throughout his career, Emmett gave support for the Shriners and the Shriner's Hospital and teaching children and grown-ups to laugh, this most famously while with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus.
All the TV programs he was on, the children's books and sing along records and movies he acted in, such as "The Greatest Show On Earth" contributed to his giving to others.
Emmett met and became friends with many great celebrities like Walt Disney, Carol Burnett, Henry Fonda, and Charlton Heston to name a few. Still, he remained humble.
Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., died suddenly of a massive heart attack at his home in Sarasota, Florida, March 20, 1979, while going out to pick up the newspaper on his front lawn.
On April 16, 1988, Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., was inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame.
https://circusringoffame.org/inductees/
In 1989. Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame.
https://famousclowns.org/famous-clowns/international-clown-hall-of-fame-inductees/
To Nominate, Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr. (December 9, 1898 - March 20, 1979), to receive posthumously, the Congressional Gold Medal & Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Emmett Kelly, Sr, was born in Sedan, Kansas, December 9, 1898, to immigrant parents, Thomas Kelly and Mollie Schmick Kelly. Emmett remembered as the World Famous Circus Clown, "Weary Willie", of which he was the first pantomime, Tramp Clown which in turn developed into a new category for Clowning.
Emmett's father was the Section Foreman in Sedan, Kansas for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The Railroad would prove to become an integral part of Emmett's life.
In his autobiography, "Clown", Emmett reminisces about his early years living in Sedan and of him and his younger sister Sylvia, also born in Sedan, Kansas sneaking out and going downtown on Saturday evenings to listen to the band play at the Band Stand. He also tells of his first whipping given to him by his father after he was helped to climb down from a telegraph/telephone pole from where he was trying to walk the tight rope. Little did he know at the time, one touch of wire could have electrocuted him. This event was perhaps brought on after hearing about an act in one of the many Circuses that came to town and becoming a decisive influence on him later in life.
In September of 1905 Emmett's family moved to a farm his father had bought near Houston, Missouri where he went to school and learned to work hard while growing up. Emmett became interested in drawing so; his mother enrolled him in a correspondence school with Landon School of Cartooning and paid a dollar for each lesson.
Later when Emmett was old enough, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri to find work in cartooning. In his autobiography, he tells of his struggles getting jobs and how he ended up in Kansas working on the wheat harvest then down to Texas where he worked laying pipe for the oil fields. Emmett then returned to Kansas City and found work carving headstones. His first circus job was to work for a local circus painting their equipment, designing posters and banners.
Emmett dreamed of becoming a trapeze artist and soon took a job in another circus but found that he was limited in what he could do going forward. He then developed into a pantomime Tramp clown and designed his costumes and skits that would eventually make him famous while working for several various circuses.
Emmett's fame grew as the clown, "Weary Willie". In 1937 while performing with the Cole Brothers and Clyde Beatty Combined Circus in New York City, he was approached by Bernard Mills and invited to travel to England to present his acts. Emmett signed a contract with the Bertram Mills London Circus at the London Olympia for their 1938 winter season and was asked to return for the 1939 season, which he did. Therefore,
For demonstrating the most excellent qualities of our country and bringing the memorial performances through entertainment that has brought joy to millions of Americans and,
As an emissary through entertainment to Kings and Queens and Heads of state of Foreign countries, such as the Queen of Spain, Halie Selassie, Winston Churchill, and others. Bringing joy to millions of their citizens before the invasion of the Nazi forces into European countries at the onset of WWII (1937, 1938. & 1939),
For his humanitarian acts of comforting passengers and autographing a ship's postcard and drawing a sketch on a menu for Irene Ladd a student traveling with two student friends who had boarded in France. When asked, performed in costume for passenger and crew, while returning from pre-WWII Europe on the passenger ship SS President Roosevelt in August of 1939. (Emmett boarded the boat in England and noted in his autobiography, page 160, that a modal of a British PT boat was covered in canvas and latched to the ship at the ship's prow and accompanied by several English officers. The ship's Captian took an alternate route to avoid German submarines.),
For his acts of courage during July 6, 1944, Hartford Circus Fire in Hartford, Connecticut, by carrying buckets of water to put out fires and for caring for and helping panicked audience members, mostly women, and children,
For his kindness and consideration in 1945 while performing in Cleveland, Ohio, doing his cabbage routine on Christmas Day with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Stopping at young Ken Breakley and his mother, drawing a portrait and autographing it, then later visiting Ken's grandfather, Forest E. Wilson who was the legal advisor for the Grotto Circus based in Cleveland and was in the hospital,
For the numerous firsts, Emmett contributed to the art of Clowning worldwide.
During the war years, Emmett experienced the shortages, rationing, and the scheduling adjustments the circus was forced to live and work under in the United States. After the war things quickly begin looking up. So, the summer of 1946 he was happy to receive a letter of invitation from the Bertram Mills London Circus to return to England for the Christmas show that would start in December. He had promised to return and excepted the invitation. After the Ringling Brother's Circus closed, Emmett traveled to New York City to get his Passport and Visa updated and booked passage on the SS Queen Elizabeth before sailing in early December.
Emmett arrived at the port in England on the day the Bertram Mills London Circus was to open at the London Olympia. The docks were chaotic and finding a taxicab which he had to share was near impossible. After the couple Emmett shared the cab with had been dropped off, Emmett arrived at his destination and met with Mr. Mills, with only 15 minutes before show time. He didn't have time to stop off and buy a loaf of bread or a head of cabbage he uses in his act, a worker ran out and brought him a loaf of bread. He hurriedly made it to his quarters and put his costume on and applied his makeup. So on queue entered the arena.
Emmett was surprised at the astonishment of the people with some asking how was he able to get a whole loaf of bread. He continued working for the crowd as other acts performed. When done on the main floor Emmett headed up to the balcony to start there. He was shocked to see the more impoverished of the people's condition and dress. Some dressed in tattered cloaths almost as bad as his costume. When the children who had small bags of candy offered him a piece, he saw only three or four small pieces in their paper bags and pretended to take one out and eat it. After he passed by, the children looked in their paper bags then complain to their mothers, "He didn't take one!". Tears welled up in Emmett's eyes as a strong post-war culture shock began to reveal itself. It was not like when he was there in 1939, and each child wore new cloaths and had a box of mixed chocolates to offer him a piece.
After the circus closed that night, Emmett made his way to the quality hotel he had stayed in before. When he got to his room, the heat was off. He spent each night sleeping in his overcoat during his stay because of the coal rationing. Strict war rationing was still in effect, and Emmett was not immune. Alone in his room, he reflected at the condition of the people especially the children and that was the night, the clown cried as his heart went out to them in their suffering. The next day he registered to get his ration books.
The next morning, Emmett ordered breakfast and found the menu portions were much smaller and throughout his stay, he would continue to be hungry. He took a walk and saw more of the destruction the war had caused. Sometimes, Emmett would take taxicab trips around the city and saw more damage. On February 13, 1947, he boarded the SS Queen Elisabeth for the return voyage home, arriving in New York City around the 18th.
When Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr. retired from the Circus, he was hired in 1956 and served as the mascot for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York City. The team was affectionately called, "Dem Bums". In 1957 the team was sold and moved to Los Angeles, California becoming the LA Dodgers, and Emmett was hired as their mascot and made the moved with them. This move opened new doors of opportunities.
Including granting actress/comedian Carol Burnett the use of his famous skit, "Mystery Spot Light", which she developed into the Cleaning Lady skit on her television program which Emmett was a featured guest for a couple of shows.
Throughout his career, Emmett gave support for the Shriners and the Shriner's Hospital and teaching children and grown-ups to laugh, this most famously while with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus.
All the TV programs he was on, the children's books and sing along records and movies he acted in, such as "The Greatest Show On Earth" contributed to his giving to others.
Emmett met and became friends with many great celebrities like Walt Disney, Carol Burnett, Henry Fonda, and Charlton Heston to name a few. Still, he remained humble.
Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., died suddenly of a massive heart attack at his home in Sarasota, Florida, March 20, 1979, while going out to pick up the newspaper on his front lawn.
On April 16, 1988, Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., was inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame.
https://circusringoffame.org/inductees/
In 1989. Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame.
https://famousclowns.org/famous-clowns/international-clown-hall-of-fame-inductees/
In1994, Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame.
http://visit.circushalloffame.com/circus-hall-of-fame-inductees/
You may access more pictures, movie clips and Estate contact with Stephen Woodburn at,
https://www.willieandme.com
The Emmett Kelly Historical Museum in Sedan, Kansas was founded and opened June 23, in 1967 and with a visit by Emmett in September of that year. The website is being rebuilt and updating.
https://www.emmettkellymuseum.com
We will be collecting both locally signed paper and online petitions for the posthumous nomination of Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., for the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The hope being with a fellow Kansas Senator's or Congressman's submission of the appointment to and in support in Congress, along with presenting the nomination to the President, I believe this would be a tremendous bipartisan way to help calm the country and honor a man who gave the example of humility and respect one towards another.
Sincerely,
Everett E. Henderson (Ed)
{Board Member of the Emmett Kelly Historical Museum}
The Emmett Kelly Historical Museum in Sedan, Kansas was founded and opened June 23, in 1967 and with a visit by Emmett in September of that year. The website is being rebuilt and updating.
https://www.emmettkellymuseum.com
We will be collecting both locally signed paper and online petitions for the posthumous nomination of Emmett Leo Kelly, Sr., for the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The hope being with a fellow Kansas Senator's or Congressman's submission of the appointment to and in support in Congress, along with presenting the nomination to the President, I believe this would be a tremendous bipartisan way to help calm the country and honor a man who gave the example of humility and respect one towards another.
Sincerely,
Everett E. Henderson (Ed)
{Board Member of the Emmett Kelly Historical Museum}
