NORMAN, Wayne Andrew Sr.

Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3207582&id=I382

Wayne Andrew Norman, Sr.

NORMAN, Wayne Andrew Sr. (Dubuque, IA, Jan. 1, 1920--Dubuque, IA, Jan. 20, 2001). Norman attended DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in architectural engineering. He served as an aeronautical engineer with the U.S. Army Air Corps and designed aircraft at Wright Field near Dayton, Ohio. (1) Norman joined CARADCO in 1946 as a research engineer and advanced to become executive vice-president and director. He was named division general manager when the firm joined Scovill. He served on the board of directors and the executive committee of the National Forest Products Association and held various offices including president of the National Woodwork Manufacturers Association. In 1967 he was named one of two U. S. employee delegates to the International Woodworking Indusries Technical Conference at Geneva, Switzerland. (2) In 1970 he was named "Management Man of the Year" by the Iowa Area Council of the National Management Association. (3) He retired as general manager of Dubuque's Caradco Division of Scoville Manufacturing Company after twenty-seven years of service. (4)

Norman was often called upon for his fund-raising abilities. In the 1960s, he led the financial campaign for the YMCA-YWCA Community Center and WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. (5) In 1973 he spearheaded the successful $3.6 million bond issue campaign to finance construction of the FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER adjacent to the ORPHEUM. He helped in the effort to construct ECUMENICAL TOWER, the downtown apartment building for low-income elderly, and led the successful efforts in 1988 to finance restoration of the bell tower on the roof of the DUBUQUE CITY HALL. (6)

Norman was referred to as Dubuque's "original godfather" of architectural preservation. His efforts prevented the demolition of the magnificent RYAN HOUSE. Norman and two other investors purchased the building which was converted into a restaurant. The buildings in the CABLE CAR SQUARE were saved through J. M. CARDINAL, a corporation Norman established in 1973 that purchased eighteen buildings and sold them for restoration. His awareness of the need to collect artifacts linked to the MISSISSIPPI RIVER led to the creation of the FRED W. WOODWARD RIVERBOAT MUSEUM. (7)

As planning and development officer at the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE from 1980 until 1986, Norman led the Steffens Arcade and Blades Hall projects. He served as vice-president of the GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and chairman of its ICE HARBOR Development Committee. (8) He served as a board member and chairman of the Iowa Arts Council, member of the boards of the Iowa Humanities and the National Endowment of the Arts and originated the idea of the Dubuque Trolley and brought a horse-drawn carriage to the city in 1978.

Norman's many civic contributions received widespread recognition. In 1973 he received the Telegraph Herald's FIRST CITIZEN AWARD and the Dubuque City Council Award in 1980. In 1977 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Dubuque. Annually listed by the TELEGRAPH HERALD among Dubuque's ten most respected leaders, Norman served as a director of FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBUQUE, Ecumenical Housing, NATIONAL RIVERS HALL OF FAME, YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.), Finley Health Foundation, FINLEY HOSPITAL (THE), United Fund of Dubuque, and the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. (8)

In 1976 Norman, while working with Monsignor Norbert C. Barrett, co-developed Cathedral Square, the grassy square featuring a bronze statue, across from ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL.

In January, 1998 the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY awarded him its "Treasure of Dubuque" honor and presented him with the Helen Mercer Award and the John Bickel Award. (9)

---

Source:

1. Miller, Jim. "Wayne Norman--A Man Who 'Loves" Projects," Telegraph Herald, Dec. 30, 1973, p. 31. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WyFRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2MQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3465,5246631&dq=wayne+norman&hl=en

2. "Norman, Caradco Manager, Steps Down," Telegraph-Herald, June 27, 1971, p. 15

3. "Wayne Norman--Man of the Year," Telegraph Herald, Sept.. 13, 1970, p. 4. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3dhFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1r0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5689,3623645&dq=wayne+norman&hl=en

4. Miller, Jim.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Kirchen, Rich. "Dubuque's Businessman of Vision," Telegraph Herald, June 30, 1986, p. 11

8. "Norman, Caradco Manager..."

9. Obituary, Telegraph Herald, January 23, 2001, p. 6