This letter is to show support for keeping the name of the new football field as the Tom Norris Field.
The family feels that Tom and Mary Norris contributed so much time and money to educational programs, not only to the Battle Mountain schools but schools in Utah and Texas as well. Tom had tremendous impact on the success of many teachers and students and believed that education was the only way out and up.
Without many opportunities as a young man, he worked, went to school and played football, and still graduated with honors. He spent his whole life in the mining industry, prospered and shared with the community to promote education. How soon people forget those who made a difference. He should continue to be honored with his name on the new football field.
My name is Merridee Torgerson. I am Tom Norris’s niece and spokesperson for the Norris family. Tom has two sisters and a brother who are still alive today, they are starting to show their age and it is physically impossible for them to travel. His nieces and nephews are scattered all over the country, myself and my family are the only Norris family in the area.
Tom and Mary Norris loved education and contributed so much for Battle Mountain, completed graveling the parking lot for the new high school when there was no money for this project. Starting an academic club, donating money to the music department, prize money for class projects, computers, equipment and the list goes on and on.
They put a lot out there because Tom said you never know the one thing a student will grasp to get the desire to learn. The past generation took it upon themselves to honor, recognize and show respect for this man and named the high school football field “Tom Norris Football Field,” a fitting tribute to a deserving man. A fund he set up years ago is still being used today in our schools and last year’s graduating Valedictorian and Salutatorian got gold coins from Tom and Mary Norris.
They were and will always be the champions for education in Lander County.
The opinion of the Norris family strongly believes the new football field being built should have been named “Tom Norris Football Field.”
Merridee Toergerson