The School Board recently voted to approve naming the Suwannee High School (SHS) Softball Field the Richard A. Norris Softball Complex after the late Rick Norris. Norris, formerly the school business director, passed away a few months ago after an illness.

SHS Head Softball Coach Jeff Smith and Assistant Softball Coach Jan Schenck attended the School Board meeting to present comments about the name change.

“When Rick Norris died we invited our varsity team to go to his viewing. It was at that time many of the girls who did not know him, because they were freshmen or sophomores, became very aware of his importance and his love and passion for Suwannee softball,” Schenck said at the meeting.

After attending his viewing, Schenck commented to the team about naming the field after Norris. A few days later she received a phone call from School Board Vice Chair Julie Ulmer that Board member Jerry Taylor came up with the same idea.

Schenck said Norris’ contributions to the SHS Softball Field, has provided her daughter Lea Schenck and others with a nice facility for playing ball.

“It’s a privilege to have the softball field we have. If it weren’t for Rick we wouldn’t have the facilities, the lights,” she said.

She said after visiting other districts this year, the team found out there are many softball fields out there that don’t have facilities as nice as SHS.

“All the other teams could talk about is how wonderful our facility is. It really exemplifies what Rick stood for,” she said.

“It was kind of fun to see all the coaches from the other teams come and said, ‘man you’ve got a nice place, here.’ We go to some places that don’t even have water in the outfield or a fence all around the field,” Smith said. “I’d say ours is one of the top fields in North Florida.”

“I feel like Rick was such an important part of the softball program that this is fitting,” Ulmer said at the meeting.

Schenck said after the meeting plans are to have a dedication of the field during a pre-season game in January. A sign with the new name will also be added at the field.

Schenck said Norris was instrumental in finding funding for the new softball field through grants and other funding sources. After the field was constructed, Norris helped oversee improvements, such as additional batting areas and adding a concession stand.

Before the field was constructed players had to carpool to the recreation center to practice and play games.

Ulmer said Norris got involved in Suwannee softball after his daughters began playing the sport.

During the meeting, the School Board presented a plaque to the Softball Booster Club commemorating the official name change.