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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder | name=Dave Noel Norris, Sr. | image= | nationality=American | office=Mayor of West Monroe, Louisiana | party=Democratic Par..."
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Dave Noel Norris, Sr.
| image=
| nationality=[[United States|American]]
| office=[[Mayor]] of West Monroe, [[Louisiana]]
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| term_start=July 1, 1978
| term_end=
| preceded=[[Bert Hatten]]
| succeeded=
| birth_place=West Monroe
| birth_date=August 4, 1942
| death_date=
| death_cause=
| death_place=
| occupation= College professor<br> Long-term mayor
| spouse=Biddy Dupree Norris
| children=Cynthia Susan Norris<br>
David Noel "Davy" Norris, Jr.
Christopher Dupree Norris
| parents=William Wiley, II, and Rosalee Beeson Norris
| relations=[[William Wiley Norris, III]] (judge)
| residence=West Monroe, Louisiana
| religion=[[United Methodist]]
| parents=
| alma_mater=West Monroe High School<br>
University of Louisiana at [[Monroe, Louisiansa|Monroe]]<br>
[[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>
Mississippi State University
}}
'''Dave Noel Norris, Sr.''' (born August 4, 1942), is the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voterportal.sos.la.gov/home.aspx|title=Plug in Dave Norris, August 1942|publisher=voterportal.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> [[mayor]] of his native West Monroe, Louisiana]], a position which he has held since 1978 with minimal opposition. Norris was unopposed for a tenth term as mayor in the election held on April 5, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/SearchForCandidates/Pages/default.aspx|title=Races in a Parish: Ouachita|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=February 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20140129/NEWS01/301290022/West-Monroe-Mayor-Norris-to-seek-10th-and-final-term|title=Greg Hilburn, "West Monroe Mayor Norris to seek 10th - and final - term," January 29, 2014|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=
February 3, 2014}}</ref> After earlier pledging to retire in 2018, Norris instead is seeking an eleventh term but faces three challengers in the March 24 primary, [[Republican Party|
Republican]] Staci Albritton Mitchell and two No Party contenders, Tremaine Donte Gordon and Jennifer Schmeer. A majority vote is required to select a winner of the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Louisiana election returns|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}</ref> There was earlier speculation that state Senator Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth would oppose Norris in 2018, but the Republican lawmaker passed on the challenge.
==Background==
Norris is one of four children, two surviving, of William Wiley Norris, II (1909–1987), a native of Smith County in south central [[Mississippi]], and the former Rosalie Beeson (1911–1996), who are both interred at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Norris+&GSfn=William&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1145&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=17148767&df=all&|title=William Norris, Jr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}</ref> Norris' brother, [[William Wiley NorrisI, III]], was a Monroe-based judge for many years.
Norris graduated from West Monroe High School.<ref name=norrisbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/DI/20140424/NEWS01/304240015/|title=West Monroe Mayor Norris to deliver commencement at ULM|date=April 25, 2014|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=May 22, 2014 (article can no longer be accessed on Internet)}}</ref> In 1963, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from the University of Louisiana at [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], then known as Northeast Louisiana State College. In 1965, he procured a [[Master of Business Administration]] from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He obtained the [[Doctor of Business Administration]] from Mississippi State University in Starkville.<ref name=chac>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=o9SASkgB__IC&pg=PA351&lpg=PA351&dq=Dave+Norris+in+Chacahoula&source=bl&ots=53c_ydAEDd&sig=aNkCrW0dfkXJhhsjGwPCgNcwN8Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DvJvUsDIPMW92wXN0YG4Bw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dave%20Norris%20in%20Chacahoula&f=false|title=Making It: Mayor's Enthusiasm Promotes Interest|publisher=''The Chacahoula'' (1984)|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
From 1966 until his election as mayor in 1978, Norris was an associate professor of [[economics]] and director of the Small Business Institute at the his alma mater, ULM. After becoming mayor, he continued to teach part-time at ULM until 1998.<ref name=norrisbio/><ref name=dnnorris/> One of the students whom Norris mentored was Robert "Bob" Mann, a journalist and political historian who holds the Douglas Manship Chair of Journalism at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bobmannblog.com/2012/06/12/three-tiger-stadiums-filled-with-poor-children-the-scandal-of-poverty-in-louisiana/|title=Three Tiger Stadiums Filled With Poor Children: The Scandal of Poverty in Louisiana|publisher=bobmannblog.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
==Political life==
In 1971, West Monroe streamlined its city charter and expanded the powers of the mayor. Under Norris' predecessor as mayor, [[Bert Hatten]], the city constructed a new City Hall, police department, jail, and convention center on the former Ouachita Valley Fairgrounds.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CZi-yfHRBhEC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Bert+Hatten+and+Dave+Norris&source=bl&ots=Sz0DfQTaQ3&sig=HySyeT5PvUTicnNhMEWzCX7ylTk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PNlvUomZCYLz2QWr94D4BA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Bert%20Hatten%20and%20Dave%20Norris&f=false|title=Gordon E. Harvey, Historic Ouachita Parish: An Illustrated History|publisher=HPN Books, 2007, p. 44|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
Norris is a key proponent of the Sparta Reuse Project, which converts wastewater into fresh water to reduce the depletion of the Sparta Aquifer. The project is financed from a combination of local, state, and federal stimulus sources earmarked to the city and its engineering firm, Energy Ventures Analysis.<ref name=dnnorris>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions/recovery-act/mayor-dave-norris-|title=Mayor Dave Norris|publisher=whitehouse.gov|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Under Norris, the city built the Ike Hamilton Expo Center, an indoor arena off [[Interstate 20]] popularly called "The Ike". The center is used for equestrian events, conventions, trade shows, and some concerts.<ref name=ninthterm>{{cite web|url=https://col129.mail.live.com/default.aspx?id=64855#n=956504751&view=1|author=George Vieto|title=West Monroe Mayor Dave Norris gets a ninth term unopposed, February 6, 2010|publisher=col129.mail.live.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westmonroe.com/ike-hamilton-expo-center/ike-hamilton-expo-center|title=Ike Hamilton Expo Center|publisher=westmonroe.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Under Norris, the city built the West Ouachita Senior Center and expanded its recreational facilities to include Lazarre Park on the Ouachita River, Kiroli Park, a woodland experience in an urban setting, and Restoration Park, a wetlands park developed from a former gravel pit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westmonroe.com/mayor/mayor|title=Mayor|publisher=westmonroe.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
In February 2010, Norris was unopposed for his ninth term.<ref name=ninthterm/> Despite struggles with aging infrastructure and municipal retirement commitments, West Monroe has been designated by the consumer advocacy website NerdWallet as one of the top four cities in Louisiana in which to rear a family. Favorable factors in West Monroe cited include median income, affordable home ownership, public school ratings, and economic growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20131017/news01/310160035/norris-likely-run-10th-term|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|title=Norris likely to run for 10th term, October 16, 2013|publisher=''The News-Star''|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Norris is the choir director at the McGuire [[United Methodist]] Church in West Monroe. His wife, the former Biddy Dupree, is a pianist and worship coordinator.<ref name=norrisbio/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcguireumc.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44517&PID=621901|title=Meet Our Staff|publisher=mcquireumc.org|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> He has also served on the board of the [[Salvation Army]] and the West Monroe Boys Club. He has also worked in the United Fund.<ref name=chac/>
Dave Noel "Davy" Norris, Jr. (born February 1969), son of Dave and Biddy Norris, holds the Ph.D. in economics from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phdtree.org/scholar/norris-dave-noel-jr/|title=Dave Noel Norris, Jr.|publisher=phdtree.org|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> and is the director of the Louisiana Tech University Enterprise Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cenit.latech.edu/newsarticle.shtml?id=95|title=Funding will help Tech boost job creation, business, August 11, 2012|publisher=cenit.latech.edu|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Biddy Norris's parents were Justus Theron and Iva Rawls Dupree. There are two other Norris children, Cynthia Susan Norris and Christopher Dupree Norris.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dupree.ws/tree/dupree/f002261.htm|title=Family Group Record for Dave Noel NORRIS and Biddy DUPREE|publisher=Dupree.ws|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
==Hall of Fame induction==
In 2017, Norris was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield,<ref>Greg Hilburn (March 11, 2017), "La.'s political legends take their place in Hall of Fame'', ''The Monroe News-Star'', March 14, 2017.</ref>three years after his former student Robert Mann received that honor.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, Dave)}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Professors]]
[[Category:Mayors]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:United Methodists]]
| name=Dave Noel Norris, Sr.
| image=
| nationality=[[United States|American]]
| office=[[Mayor]] of West Monroe, [[Louisiana]]
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| term_start=July 1, 1978
| term_end=
| preceded=[[Bert Hatten]]
| succeeded=
| birth_place=West Monroe
| birth_date=August 4, 1942
| death_date=
| death_cause=
| death_place=
| occupation= College professor<br> Long-term mayor
| spouse=Biddy Dupree Norris
| children=Cynthia Susan Norris<br>
David Noel "Davy" Norris, Jr.
Christopher Dupree Norris
| parents=William Wiley, II, and Rosalee Beeson Norris
| relations=[[William Wiley Norris, III]] (judge)
| residence=West Monroe, Louisiana
| religion=[[United Methodist]]
| parents=
| alma_mater=West Monroe High School<br>
University of Louisiana at [[Monroe, Louisiansa|Monroe]]<br>
[[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>
Mississippi State University
}}
'''Dave Noel Norris, Sr.''' (born August 4, 1942), is the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voterportal.sos.la.gov/home.aspx|title=Plug in Dave Norris, August 1942|publisher=voterportal.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> [[mayor]] of his native West Monroe, Louisiana]], a position which he has held since 1978 with minimal opposition. Norris was unopposed for a tenth term as mayor in the election held on April 5, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/SearchForCandidates/Pages/default.aspx|title=Races in a Parish: Ouachita|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=February 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20140129/NEWS01/301290022/West-Monroe-Mayor-Norris-to-seek-10th-and-final-term|title=Greg Hilburn, "West Monroe Mayor Norris to seek 10th - and final - term," January 29, 2014|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=
February 3, 2014}}</ref> After earlier pledging to retire in 2018, Norris instead is seeking an eleventh term but faces three challengers in the March 24 primary, [[Republican Party|
Republican]] Staci Albritton Mitchell and two No Party contenders, Tremaine Donte Gordon and Jennifer Schmeer. A majority vote is required to select a winner of the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Louisiana election returns|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}</ref> There was earlier speculation that state Senator Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth would oppose Norris in 2018, but the Republican lawmaker passed on the challenge.
==Background==
Norris is one of four children, two surviving, of William Wiley Norris, II (1909–1987), a native of Smith County in south central [[Mississippi]], and the former Rosalie Beeson (1911–1996), who are both interred at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Norris+&GSfn=William&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1145&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=17148767&df=all&|title=William Norris, Jr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}</ref> Norris' brother, [[William Wiley NorrisI, III]], was a Monroe-based judge for many years.
Norris graduated from West Monroe High School.<ref name=norrisbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/DI/20140424/NEWS01/304240015/|title=West Monroe Mayor Norris to deliver commencement at ULM|date=April 25, 2014|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=May 22, 2014 (article can no longer be accessed on Internet)}}</ref> In 1963, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from the University of Louisiana at [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], then known as Northeast Louisiana State College. In 1965, he procured a [[Master of Business Administration]] from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He obtained the [[Doctor of Business Administration]] from Mississippi State University in Starkville.<ref name=chac>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=o9SASkgB__IC&pg=PA351&lpg=PA351&dq=Dave+Norris+in+Chacahoula&source=bl&ots=53c_ydAEDd&sig=aNkCrW0dfkXJhhsjGwPCgNcwN8Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DvJvUsDIPMW92wXN0YG4Bw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dave%20Norris%20in%20Chacahoula&f=false|title=Making It: Mayor's Enthusiasm Promotes Interest|publisher=''The Chacahoula'' (1984)|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
From 1966 until his election as mayor in 1978, Norris was an associate professor of [[economics]] and director of the Small Business Institute at the his alma mater, ULM. After becoming mayor, he continued to teach part-time at ULM until 1998.<ref name=norrisbio/><ref name=dnnorris/> One of the students whom Norris mentored was Robert "Bob" Mann, a journalist and political historian who holds the Douglas Manship Chair of Journalism at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bobmannblog.com/2012/06/12/three-tiger-stadiums-filled-with-poor-children-the-scandal-of-poverty-in-louisiana/|title=Three Tiger Stadiums Filled With Poor Children: The Scandal of Poverty in Louisiana|publisher=bobmannblog.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
==Political life==
In 1971, West Monroe streamlined its city charter and expanded the powers of the mayor. Under Norris' predecessor as mayor, [[Bert Hatten]], the city constructed a new City Hall, police department, jail, and convention center on the former Ouachita Valley Fairgrounds.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CZi-yfHRBhEC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Bert+Hatten+and+Dave+Norris&source=bl&ots=Sz0DfQTaQ3&sig=HySyeT5PvUTicnNhMEWzCX7ylTk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PNlvUomZCYLz2QWr94D4BA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Bert%20Hatten%20and%20Dave%20Norris&f=false|title=Gordon E. Harvey, Historic Ouachita Parish: An Illustrated History|publisher=HPN Books, 2007, p. 44|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
Norris is a key proponent of the Sparta Reuse Project, which converts wastewater into fresh water to reduce the depletion of the Sparta Aquifer. The project is financed from a combination of local, state, and federal stimulus sources earmarked to the city and its engineering firm, Energy Ventures Analysis.<ref name=dnnorris>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions/recovery-act/mayor-dave-norris-|title=Mayor Dave Norris|publisher=whitehouse.gov|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Under Norris, the city built the Ike Hamilton Expo Center, an indoor arena off [[Interstate 20]] popularly called "The Ike". The center is used for equestrian events, conventions, trade shows, and some concerts.<ref name=ninthterm>{{cite web|url=https://col129.mail.live.com/default.aspx?id=64855#n=956504751&view=1|author=George Vieto|title=West Monroe Mayor Dave Norris gets a ninth term unopposed, February 6, 2010|publisher=col129.mail.live.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westmonroe.com/ike-hamilton-expo-center/ike-hamilton-expo-center|title=Ike Hamilton Expo Center|publisher=westmonroe.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Under Norris, the city built the West Ouachita Senior Center and expanded its recreational facilities to include Lazarre Park on the Ouachita River, Kiroli Park, a woodland experience in an urban setting, and Restoration Park, a wetlands park developed from a former gravel pit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westmonroe.com/mayor/mayor|title=Mayor|publisher=westmonroe.com|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
In February 2010, Norris was unopposed for his ninth term.<ref name=ninthterm/> Despite struggles with aging infrastructure and municipal retirement commitments, West Monroe has been designated by the consumer advocacy website NerdWallet as one of the top four cities in Louisiana in which to rear a family. Favorable factors in West Monroe cited include median income, affordable home ownership, public school ratings, and economic growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20131017/news01/310160035/norris-likely-run-10th-term|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|title=Norris likely to run for 10th term, October 16, 2013|publisher=''The News-Star''|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Norris is the choir director at the McGuire [[United Methodist]] Church in West Monroe. His wife, the former Biddy Dupree, is a pianist and worship coordinator.<ref name=norrisbio/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcguireumc.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44517&PID=621901|title=Meet Our Staff|publisher=mcquireumc.org|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> He has also served on the board of the [[Salvation Army]] and the West Monroe Boys Club. He has also worked in the United Fund.<ref name=chac/>
Dave Noel "Davy" Norris, Jr. (born February 1969), son of Dave and Biddy Norris, holds the Ph.D. in economics from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phdtree.org/scholar/norris-dave-noel-jr/|title=Dave Noel Norris, Jr.|publisher=phdtree.org|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> and is the director of the Louisiana Tech University Enterprise Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cenit.latech.edu/newsarticle.shtml?id=95|title=Funding will help Tech boost job creation, business, August 11, 2012|publisher=cenit.latech.edu|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref> Biddy Norris's parents were Justus Theron and Iva Rawls Dupree. There are two other Norris children, Cynthia Susan Norris and Christopher Dupree Norris.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dupree.ws/tree/dupree/f002261.htm|title=Family Group Record for Dave Noel NORRIS and Biddy DUPREE|publisher=Dupree.ws|accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>
==Hall of Fame induction==
In 2017, Norris was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield,<ref>Greg Hilburn (March 11, 2017), "La.'s political legends take their place in Hall of Fame'', ''The Monroe News-Star'', March 14, 2017.</ref>three years after his former student Robert Mann received that honor.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, Dave)}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Professors]]
[[Category:Mayors]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:United Methodists]]