What can you do to say “thanks” to someone that has given back to a community for over 50 years? A plaque? A gift certificate? There is no black and white answer to this question. However, this …
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What can you do to say “thanks” to someone that has given back to a community for over 50 years? A plaque? A gift certificate? There is no black and white answer to this question. However, this article is one small step towards recognizing this gentleman’s service to this community AND to bring forth the dire state that we are in. I’m talking about the shortage of referees and officials (Coming next week).
I know how long 50 years is. Last year I qualified for AARP. Not many can say they worked or served at anything for 50 years. For me it’d be like working from cradle until now; not possible. Marriages that make it that long deserve a celebration. Those couples having the luck of good health, love and time are amazing this day and age. 50 years at an occupation? Wow! That’s almost twice as long as most stick with any career.
That’s why I’d like to honor Larry Norrell for being a football ref for over 50 years.
That’s on top of a huge laundry list of coaching lower level football, high school basket- ball, golf and also officiating basketball at the highest level here for the state. All of those years teaching during the day, taking kids on the bus to games/matches and getting home late is the kind of sacrifice that is unseen but is necessary to help young minds compete.
Now, if you think that’s a big contribution, hold on to your hats! Larry also has been instrumental in bringing back the golf team to Stanley-Boyd. I was part of that initial team in 1988 that saw he and Lee LaFlamme spent countless hours fighting to bring this program to fruition. Sacrificing much including donat ing their coaching hours to make it happen. Without this selfless sacrifice it wouldn't have happened. Larry was also a longtime basketball referee. He and his partner served over 21 years and they were honored by being selected to referee at the state tourney 8 times.
I’ve got more; with his “free time” he was a Senior Class advisor for 30 years and helped get the National Honor Society their wings. He served as the group advisor from 1978-2000. In this capacity, he organized trips to Washington, D.C. and New York City and facilitated the Drug and Alcohol program for many years.
I’ve now highlighted “most” of the school involvement, but I’m not done. He was a key figure in starting the "Stake in the Lake" pro gram back in the late 80’s to help fund the dredging of Chapman Lake. He ran the An nual Alumni Tournament for over a decade with funds raised to be used for Chapman Lake. For the past 25 years he has been the Chairman of the Booster club golf outing; being the clubs’ biggest fund-raising event each year. Lastly, although retired, Mr. Norrell continues to substitute teach on a regular basis. I Would be remiss to not mention the sig- nificance of Larry's spouse, Jan in these en – deavors as a lifetime educator, coach, official and in his civic minded activities. She has been so supportive of him, the time commitments away from home and she has helped whenever possible. They are a true “Team.”
So, this article, is it enough? Hells bells no. But, it’s a small thing we can do to thank a member of a community that would look, sound and be very different without the selfless efforts of his driven commitment to his community. For a person to give so much to a community that he wasn’t even born into shines light into a humble, dignified and car ing man. Someone who stuck out his neck to make things better. I’m proud to call him a mentor and friend.