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CLIFTON PARK — Richard "Dick" Clemens, a retired Massachusetts state trooper who posed for Norman Rockwell's famous 1958 painting, "The Runaway," died Sunday.

Clemens, 83, was a resident of Clifton Park since 1984 and had worked in various top-level security positions for General Electric after retiring from his trooper's position in 1975.

While a trooper, Clemens had lived in Stockbridge, Mass., where he was Rockwell's neighbor. Clemens' image became an American icon when he was featured in his police uniform in a 1958 cover of The Saturday Evening Post. The painting shows Clemens seated at a counter in a diner buying an ice cream for a young boy seated next to him who was depicted as a runaway.

"He really became the icon of the kindly law enforcement official, not only here in Massachusetts but the country over," said Laurie Norton Moffatt, director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

Norton Moffatt said Clemens was a frequent visitor to the museum with Eddie Locke, who posed as the young runaway for the painting.

"Dick Clemens really became one with that image," Norton Moffatt said. "He was such a gentleman. He was private and yet he shared himself so willingly and openly with our guests here."

In a 1999 interview with the Times Union, Clemens said Rockwell had called him one day and said he had an idea for a Post cover involving a police officer and asked if he would pose for him. Rockwell was known to use people as models that he knew from his everday life.

"I was very pleased he would ask. He was a very nice man," Clemens told former Times Union reporter Mike Hurewitz.

Clemens said he obtained permission from the State Police to be Rockwell's model and in the spring of 1958 sat with Locke and another Stockbridge resident at the counter of a Howard Johnson's Restaurant.

Rockwell took photographs, produced sketches and, at the last step before painting, the artist decided to change it. The young counterman originally in the restaurant was changed to an older figure, and the Howard Johnson's restaurant was converted into a country-style diner.

"We chatted a little bit about it," Clemens recalled. "He said he wanted it a little more rustic so you would have the impression the kid got a little further out of town. And he changed the counterman because he wanted more of an age contrast."

Clemens also recounted for the Times Union how he marveled at the craftsmanship in the painting.

"He had the ability to portray the small details — the laces on my boots, the notebook in my back pocket."

Clemens said State Police officials later thanked Rockwell for choosing their trooper and the artist responded by inviting Clemens and his boss to dinner. In 1961, at the request of the Massachusetts State Police, he painted Clemens in a winter uniform so the department could use it for its Christmas cards. A copy of that work is at the Rockwell Museum.

Upon his retirement from the State Police, Clemens went to work for General Electric's Pittsfield plant. In 1984 he became head of plant protection and security at GE's Power Systems plant in Schenectady, and moved his family to Clifton Park.

Clemens often lectured at the museum and "delighted many visitors over the years by recalling his memories of posing for Norman Rockwell," said Jeremy Clowe, the museum's media services manager.

While Clemens had a copy of "The Runaway" in his home, he told the Times Union that he was more fond of other Rockwell paintings.

"One of those I like best is 'Freedom From Want' where everybody is sitting around having dinner and mother is bringing in a turkey and putting it down," he said. "If you look closely everybody sitting at the table has a glass in front of them. And every glass has water and in the water, there's ice. That's the kind of detail he could paint."

But he added knowing "The Runaway" is a favorite of police and that gave him a special joy.

"I'm proud of that," he told the Times Union 13 years ago. "There are a lot of dedicated people in law enforcement. They do a very difficult job under very difficult circumstances. And I hope that this helps build respect for them."

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

Of course the fact that the cops WOULD BE in their best Darth Vaders would have made the kid nervous too. Of course he was acting suspicion and edgy. ZAP! ZAP ZAP!! ZAP ZAP ZAPPPP!!!!!

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

Of course the fact that the cops WOULD BE in their best Darth Vaders would have made the kid nervous too. Of course he was acting suspicion and edgy. ZAP! ZAP ZAP!! ZAP ZAP ZAPPPP!!!!!