HIGH SCHOOL YEARS - Norm was in the B Club, Key Club, Chemocrats, attended Boys State, was on the Beaver Business Staff, and the Editorial Staff. Norm was the class treasurer and the class yell leader. He was in the PEP Club and the Ski Club and acted as president of both. He was into track, football, band (trombone), and was on the ski team. He was also in the junior class play.
FROM THE MAY 22, 1956 BEAVER - “Normie Wight wills his ability, versatility , and importance to Steve Foster. He also wills him his title as least indispensable man on the team.”
CLASS OF 1956 REUNITED AFTER TWENTY YEARS - “Norman Wight - Manufacturer of new donuts with just holes.”
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE REUNION - It was great seeing everyone. It was nice getting back to Dillon, and overall was a very positive experience.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL - After high school, Norm went to University of Montana in Missoula where he graduated in Liberal Arts. After graduation, he went to Oakland to be with our mother.
In 1962 he entered Navy OCS and did his training at Newport, RI. (An interesting side note was that Jim Dodd- class of 54 - Jerry’s brother was in Norm’s class.. Another ‘small world’ story is that while there, he ran into his college roommate Hal Manicke. Neither one knew that the other was in the Navy.)
His duty assignment was on the aircraft carrier Valley Forge. At that time it had been converted to a helicopter carrier. He was the Assistant Magazines Officer (assistant ‘ammo guy’ he says).
Norm studied real hard and became qualified as the coveted Officer of the Deck (steers the ship). His first Officer of the Deck assignment was moving the ship out of the San Diego dry dock. He is pretty sure that they didn’t hit anything, although there are still three fishing boats unaccounted for to this day.
He extended for a year during Viet Nam, and was assigned to the missile destroyer the USS Berkeley (not named after the city, by the way).
After his time in the Navy was over, Norm was accepted into the FBI, and his first assignment was in Lubbock, TX where he stayed for a year. His permanent assignment was San Diego. In San Diego, he was a SWAT Team Leader and investigated criminal matters. He retired in 1995.
After Norm retired, he started a private detective business primarily investigating high end business crimes, and environmental matters. He sold out in 2005 and now is working with the Escondido, CA PD specializing in cold case crimes. He says that he is 50% of the cold case crew, and notes it is not like on TV.
THINGS I’M GLAD MY MOTHER NEVER KNEW (I HOPE) OR I WISH SHE HAD NEVER KNOWN - In grade school, Norm and Craig Cornell meticulously planned to play hooky. It was to be a Huck Finn adventure - fishing, swimming, the works. They pulled it off as planned. OK - now here is the good part. They hadn’t thought it all the way through. They didn’t figure that the school would call their Moms. There was Mom waiting at the door when he got home. Craig’s Mom was also waiting at the door. (Didn’t we have fun back then?)
FAMILY - Norm married Kathy in 1965 and were divorced in 2000. They had two boys, Todd and Jonathan. Todd died in a car accident at the age of 16.
Jonathan is married to Holly. They live in Pinion Hills, CA. Jonathan is a fire captain for the California Dept. of Forestry. Now get this. He manages the prison fire crews out of his district. They have a daughter Emily, 12, and Ian, 7.
Norm married Phyllis in 2007. Many of you met her at the reunion. Phyllis has a son and a daughter. Her son Bryan has a PhD in high energy physics, but currently is importing Japanese art books. Her daughter, Jessica is a newspaper reporter in Coos Bay, OR.
Norm notes that they have three dogs, Montana, Louiee and Rosh.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES - OK get this. Norm runs 5 miles every day! He also does a martial art aikido 2 to 3 times a week. He also enjoys golf and Norm and Phyllis travel quite a bit. Recent trips include Montana, Oregon, and Hawaii.
HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES - Norm’s best friend was, and still is, Steve Foster. Other ‘best friends’ included Craig Cornell, and Gene Stone. His favorite teachers included Bill Bruer, and Ben Tyvand. He also liked Jim Womack - grade school I think. Norm really loved sports, especially football and skiing.