Francis L. "Slick" Norris

Francis L. "Slick" Norris, 86, a longtime Southeast Kansas educator, passed away at 11:20 a.m., Thursday, June 12, 2014 at his home in rural Altamont. He was born January 19, 1928, in Scammon, Kansas. He was one of nine children of James and Helen (Thomas) Norris. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy in 1945 and served on the U.S.S. Munda in the Pacific area. He was then in the Reserves at Joplin, Missouri for four years. He was a 1948 graduate of West Mineral High School and served as President of the Alumni until 2011. Norris earned a B.S. and M.S. degree from Pittsburg State University and an Ed.S. from the University of Wyoming. Norris had teaching and administrative experience on all levels. He taught at Altoona, Udall, the University of Wyoming, Goshen County Community College and Labette Community College. He also taught and served as principal at Altamont Grade School. His longest tenure was 19 years at Labette County High School as high school principal. He was on the advisory and governing board for the Area Agency on Aging, nominating board for the selection of judges for the 11th and 31st judicial districts, on the advisory board for the community corrections, and a district and unit commissioner for Boy Scouts. He was recipient of the Silver Beaver and Order of Arrow Award. In 1996, he was recipient of the Cardinal Citation Award, the highest honor bestowed from the Labette Community College Foundation and Alumni Association. He also coached Little League for many years. He had also been honored by the Altamont Lions Club with the F. L. Norris Legacy Seat at home football games and, on Flag Day 2013, the City of Altamont had dedicated the flag pole at the new City Park Building in his honor. He held positions on the State and National level in education. He was President of the State Association of Secondary Principals, and on the advisory board for the National Association. He was selected as Kansas Administrator of the Year in 1984. In 1983, Norris was invited to a reception with President Regan in Washington D.C. He was also invited to a foreign policy conference in 1984, and a state department conference in 1995. Norris was a candidate for State Representative in two elections. Norris was a member of the Church of Christ in Parsons, Kansas. He was an avid reader and writer and had articles published in national magazines and wrote for three weekly newspapers for years. He married Opal Louise Hughes at the Galesburg Christian Church on June 7, 1953. The couple had recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. She survives of the home. In addition to his wife, additional survivors include two sons, Greg and his wife, Karen of Dewey, OK and Jeff and his wife, Cyndi of Bella Vista, AR; three grandsons, Clinton, Joshua and Steven; two granddaughters, Holly and Heather; and three great-grandchildren, Trevor, Taylor and Alexis. He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, and four brothers. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at the Altamont Grade School. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont with military honors. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Monday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Memorials are suggested to the Church of Christ in Parsons. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francis L. "Slick" Norris, please visit our flower store.