What follows is the text of a speech given by school board chairman Julie Ulmer during recent ceremonies dedicating the Suwannee High softball field to the late Richard Norris.

Rick Norris was a very important part of the Suwannee County School System for many years. He faithfully served as Director of Business, working hard to tackle the financial challenges of a small school district. Every time I saw Rick the first thing I would ask was “Have you found a money tree yet?”

As parents, our children have a way of getting us passionately involved in their activities, often doing things we might not have ever thought we would willingly and gladly do to make their experience a positive one. It was Rick’s love for his daughters that brought him to be so deeply involved in the girls’ softball program at SHS. He served not only as a coach but also worked very hard behind the scenes to find that money tree for a program that struggled with funding. He was an instrumental part in the improvements of this field and the addition of the portable that serves as the field house. He even worked to harrow the field to remove glass particles in the dirt to make a safer playing surface for the girls. With his dedicated service, Suwannee High has one of the premier softball facilities in the district.

Rick’s untimely passing made many of us reflect on how much he meant not only to this district but to us personally. He was a man of integrity and compassion whose love of the Lord and his family reflected in all that he did. It was school board member Jerry Taylor that brought forth the idea of dedicating the softball field in Rick’s memory. The board overwhelmingly agreed.

It is a great honor to name this The Richard A. Norris Softball Complex.