Local Norris Foundation delegation to Lincoln event

McCOOK, Nebraska --Representatives from the George W. Norris Foundation and the Norris Institute will travel to Lincoln Monday, January 6, for Norris Day ceremonies in the Capitol Rotunda.

The McCookites will be warmly and generously received.

Thanks to the efforts of Kristen Gottschalk of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, the Norris/REA Eternal Light Display campaign will receive a $10,000 contribution from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

"This is a tremendous start for our efforts to establish an eternal display in McCook to honor Senator Norris and rural electrification," said Gene O. Morris, chairman of the George W. Norris Foundation."In combination with a $15,000 commitment from Mary Sue (Hormel) Harris and the late Bill Harris estate, we are poised to go nationwide with the fund-raising campaign," he said.

Plans for the trip to Lincoln were finalized Thursday afternoon at the December meeting of the Norris Foundation board. In other business, the Norris board:

* Accepted the resignation of Jessica Wall, who is giving up her board duties to pursue an executive director's position with the Norris Foundation and Norris Institute;

* Approved the selection of P. Mark Graff as a member of the Foundation board. Mark will serve in conjunction with his father, Pete, who, at 90, is the Norris Foundation's most senior member;

* Made preliminary plans to host an event in April which would serve as a springboard for the Norris/REA Eternal Light Display campaign. "We are looking at the Norris Day ceremony in Lincoln as the 'soft launch' of our efforts," Morris said. "The April event will be a really big deal, headlined by a nationally known speaker and the presentation of the first-ever "Georgie Award." The award is being established to call attention to the philosophies of Senator Norris, who is regarded as among the greatest legislators in American history."

In addition to Morris and the Graffs, the other members of the George W. Norris Foundation board are are Walt Sehnert, vice chairman ; Dawna Bates, secretary; Leon Kuhlen, treasurer; and Duane Tappe, member.

Cloyd Clark, founder of the Norris Institute, and Connie Jo Discoe, a member of the High Plains Museum board of directors, were guests at Thursday's meeting.