Norm Winter:  

My Story (Updated 11 Feb 2022) My Spouse: Met my German wife, Margit ( Maggie), at the local Gasthaus while stationed in Army at Herzogenaurach Germany. We were married for 40 years. Sadly she died on 14 September 2021 from Pancreatic Cancer.. Children/Pets: Daughter - Jacqueline, age 40 (Army Brat) Son - John, age 34 (Air Force Brat) Granddaughter - Marilyn Jane, Age 20 My daughter and granddaughter are living with me now. In Olympia. Son also lives in Olympia We currenty have three cats: TK ( aka Top Kat), Tesca ( aka Tesi Arnez), and Chi (aka Chia). Lucy is the family guard dog. They drive me crazy come feeding time. My Job: Fully Retired - Retired Major, USAF, Medical Service Corps - Unsuccessful attempt as Licensed Disability and Health Insurance Agent (I walked like a duck and talked like a duck but was a terrible AFLAC Sales Associate) - Recently resigned as FEMA Disaster Assistance Employee Reservist (formerly Disaster Generalist) aka Stormin Norm. As a a Community Relations and Individual Disaster Assistance Specialist, I worked after Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita, Ike, flooding in Iowa, South Carolina and Super Storm Sandy. in Texas after Tornado hit Erath County. Last deployment was the Wild Fires in California that destroyed Paradise. (if you think we have problems now just wait till Global Warming/Climate Change really kicks in. School: I had a happy childhood. My education in the Lawton Public School System (1st - 12th grade) was the best a boy growing up to become a man could hope for in the 1960s and early 70s. My first 6 years, I lived in a small, red brick, two bedroom house on 31st Street (later torn down during Memorial Hospital expansion). Much to my Mom's joy, we moved to 2420 Atlanta Ave. after Dad bought a larger new four bedroom, white brick house with circular driveway...my home and playground for the next 12 years. After finishing 1st grade at Garfield Elementary, I left behind friends, Alan H., Debbie N and Lisa S., and transferred to B.C. Swinney Elementary. I quickly made new friends including my next door neighbor and first love (Pam N.). I was broken hearted when she moved away after the 3rd Grade. Friends in the neighborhood I went to school and grew up with included David B., Robin P., Carol J., Kathy P, Judy B., Robert N., Teddy K, Eddie A., Vickie V, John R, and Don W all come to mind. I recall the day we were told over the intercom that JFK had been assassinated in Dallas. It was in Mrs Umphry's 3rd grade class. Kathy P. took the news especially hard and cried at her desk. In 1964, at the beginning of 4th grade, the single most tragic event of my "Wonder Years" occurred with the death of my Father (Ernest), a Dentist, active community leader and WWII Hellcat Navy pilot. While driving to work, he was killed when his car collided with a Fire Truck. Mother (Genevieve) left with 3 kids to feed, cloth and send off to college, commuted to Chickasha to earn her teaching degree in under a year. By 1965, Mom was teaching many of my old friends in the 5th grade at Garfield Elementary. This happened to be the same year I started 5th Grade at B.C Swinney. Together we worked as a team helping each other get through this challenging period in our lives. I helped Mom grade papers and develop lesson plans, telling what I did the previous day in class. Mom helped me bring home A's in Math by answering those hard "story problems". For most of my secondary education I was just a "B" student, seldom making the student honor roll. Not wanting to disappoint my mother too much, I avoided many of the temptations of living in a permissive single parent household. As a result, I learned the importance of accepting personal responsibility and cooperation at home, helping maintain an orderly household, and leading by example. My biggest crush in 6th grade was my music teacher Miss Harris at B.C Swinney Elementary. She tutored and encouraged me to sing the highest tenor solo in the school production of Handel's "Messiah". She also helped me overcome stage fright - a fear I still recall. I was devastated when Miss Harris married an Army Officer stationed at Ft Sill and left never to return (could be subconsciously why I became an Artillery Officer). Starting in grade school, I became interested in Student Government and School Politics which allowed me to make many friends with various interests and backgrounds. I stayed immersed in school spirit, intramural sports and other healthy extracurricular activities for the most part. I was not a jock, but loved to play YMCA intramural basketball. I even coached the Swinney's 6th Grade boys basketball team for one year. I tried to teach my young team basketball fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship using the coaching book "Triple-Post Offense" written by the Legendary Coach Tex Winter (Assistant Coach for Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers and 10 time World NBA Championship Ring Holder and 2011 Naismith Hall of Fame Inductee). Coach Tex Winter was my favorite Uncle Fred (Dad's Brother). We only won a few games because the system was a little too complex for kids who were just learning how to play the "Game". I was Sophomore and Junior Class President, but lost the Student Body President Election in an upset by Wes G. my senior year. I still consider it my "Favorite Year" to this day. I especially enjoyed participating in the various school spirit events, clubs; competing one-act plays and duets (I had trouble memorizing my lines though), intramural sports activities, and the weekend trips to the Wichita Wildlife refuge and "40 ft Hole". I steered away from having any serious relationships until after I went to college. My romantic/amorous endeavors with Girlfriends in Junior High School and High school were less than noteworthy. The girls I went steady with usually broke up with me first. Their names will remain anonymous to protect the innocent. I was a bit shy and introverted but probably came across as disinterested or aloof during my adolescent years. I didn't ask any one to the Senior Prom, not wanting to disappoint on such a "Big" night. The day I passed my drivers test and received my learner permit , I had fun cruising through Waynes Drive-In "American Graffiti" style (when gas was less than 30 cents/gallon) until an inattentive teenage girl rear ended my Chevy Malibu (minor dent) and ruined the evening. The funniest moments happened in my Senior English and Interpretative Drama Class. For our English Class Project, Ed P, Louis F., Lon K., John M, Al K, Wes G and I filmed on-location at the Holy City our humorous screen adaptation of "Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors" - spoken in Southern drawl. In the duet play "Grease" with Judy M., I never could get my lines right but it was still funny. It was the craziest of times getting outnumbered in a one-sided fight with a gang of local rednecks at Red Rock Canyon, ending with a beer bottle smashed over my head. The movie "Deliverance" comes to mind as our repelling expedition made a hasty retreat back to Lawton with bumps, bruises and crushed egos to show for the experience. My most memorable and happiest moment was on Graduation Day, being voted the Hugh Bish Award for "Senior Contributing most to Greater LHS" by the students and faculty, then later that evening finally letting it all hang out at a graduation celebration party at Mt Scott Estates till the wee morning hours. In summary, I was raised in a Christian family household for over 18 years, fortunate enough to have had loving parents and older Sister Mary Ann and Brother Marion Ernest IV (Nick) who were there to provide helpful advice and positive reinforcement and support when I needed it along the way. I will always cherish those "Wonder Years". The close friends made. The endless journeys exploring the neighborhoods along Cache Road. Riding my Schwinn Bike, with the wide handle bars, shinny silver banana seat, and blue metal flaked paint job, on the en...Expand for more