Changes

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> His brother, William Wiley Norris, III (1936-2016), was a Monroe-based judge for many years.

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> His brother, William Wiley Norris, III (1936-2016), 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, 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 a doctorate in 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>  

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, 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 a doctorate in business administration from Mississippi State University in Starkville.<ref name=chac>{{cite book|url=https://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 [[Bob Mann|Robert Townley "Bob" Mann, Jr.]], 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>

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 [[Bob Mann|Robert Townley "Bob" Mann, Jr.]], 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==

==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>

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=https://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>

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>