November 05, 2007

Contact:   Preston Davis

On October 20, 2007, Robert Norris ’72 became the 18th recipient of the Hendrix Award.  The Charlotte native was honored at a dinner and ceremony before Davidson football took on Drake.  He was also recognized between the first and second quarters of the Davidson victory.

Fifty-eight friends and family members of Robert Norris, as well as guests of the of the Davidson Athletic Foundation joined in the Smith 900 room to celebrate the former right-tackle's accomplishments on the field and his service and success in years since.  Athletic Director Jim Murphy gave a history of the Hendrix award, citing the excellence of past recipients and the importance of the award’s namesake.  Hendrix Award winners are former football players who, by lessons learned on the field, have gone onto success in their careers.

Robert Norris is no exception.  President Tom Ross, also of the class of 1972, extolled the achievements of Norris, presenting Norris as the model of a Davidson man whether he was wearing the number 47 jersey, acting as president of his fraternity, or graduating Phi Beta Kappa with Cum Laude honors in Economics.  Ross explained that same resolute character helped Norris to excel in graduate school and in forming what is now one of North Carolina’s most successful law firms in Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman. 

After being presented the Hendrix award, Norris spoke to those in the Smith 900 room about what it meant to play Davidson football and the life lessons that he learned through that experience.  He recounted the days of watching the program go from awarding scholarships to its turn toward being a non-scholarship team.  And though they had less, much was expected of them.  He recounted the 1969 season when he and a team of overachievers took Davidson to its only bowl game ever: the Tangerine Bowl.  To get there it took an exceptional will.  And as Norris remembered, much of that credit was to one man: Coach Dave Fagg.  Coach Fagg, sitting a table away, was asked by Norris to stand and be recognized.  Norris’ action in doing so highlighted his “team before I” character that has served him while at Davidson and since.

Norris was again recognized between the first and second quarters for all of the Davidson community to participate.  On stage with Norris was President  Ross and Director of Athletics  Jim Murphy, who presented Norris with the number 47 Davidson jersey in which he once played.

The Hendrix Award is sponsored by the Davidson Athletic Foundation.