Hall of Fame
If James Norton participated in athletics in the 1980s as opposed to the 1920s and 1930s, his remarkable versatility would have earned him the same legendary status and fame enjoyed by modern-era athlete Bo Jackson.
Originally from Donora, Pa., and a graduate of Donora High School, where he was a two-sport star, Norton was a student-athlete at Cal U from 1932-33 through 1934-35. He was an athletic standout in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis, playing under legendary coaches Bill Steers and Dr. Isaac Keller.
According to Norton, his multi-sports role was not entirely based on his own athletic skills.
“When I graduated from high school we were in a deep depression,” Norton said. “Back then, California was a very small school with maybe 600 students total. We did not have many great athletes, and I played all of those sports as a necessity.”
In football, Norton played both offense and defense and helped the unsubsidized Vulcans compile three-straight winning seasons from 1932 through 1934.
Power football was the sport’s nature back then and Norton helped the stingy Cal defense produce 10 shutouts in three seasons.
“I was not very big but I still played both ways,” Norton said. “I would have to say that I preferred playing football.”
Defense also reigned supreme in basketball as well during the Great Depression and Norton was a three-year letterman. He was the Vulcans’ second leading scorer in both 1933-34 and 1934-35, scoring 94 and 82 points respectively. After two losing seasons, the 1934-35 squad scored 405 total points and compiled a 7-5 overall record.
While Norton played in an era where athletics was not exposed to the mass media as it is today, the 1934 Monocle described Norton’s basketball talents by stating “Jimmy was the unanimously elected honorary captain for the season. He was undoubtedly the mainstay of the team, with his superior guarding and scoring.”
Despite the accolades, Norton is unfazed by his superb athletic past.
“I would not say I am modest but rather a realist,” Norton said. “As I said we were very small and there really were not that many great athletes. So I guess I was a mainstay but I should have been one because our teams were not that great. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed myself but being called a mainstay is not that big a deal.”
One of Norton’s basketball teammates was Fred Feldman, who joins Norton as one of the seven members of Cal U’s 2003 Hall of Fame Class. Norton was also a member of the Varsity Club as well as assisting the history professor.
In today’s world, Norton’s athletic exploits would have undoubtedly earned him a full scholarship and free education along with much notoriety. Not to mention traveling by chartered buses or even airplanes. Such was not the case in the 1930s.
“My scholarship consisted of cleaning up the locker rooms and many hallways,” said Norton. “We traveled by taxis back then and the Pennsylvania Turnpike did not even exist then. We took a lot of precarious rides through many snowy mountains.”
Road trips were not the only different or unusual travel methods Norton experienced.
“I used to catch a train in Donora everyday at 6 a.m. and ride that into California and then ride it back after classes and practice,” Norton said. “We had a lot of weird travel experiences back then and I could tell you many stories. Things were different.”
While a freshman at Cal, Norton met his wife Harriet Copenhaver, who was a senior at California High School. The couple was married 51 years until Harriet passed away seven years ago.
Military duty would delay his collegiate educational and academic pursuits as Norton served as a U.S Marine for three-and-a-half years.
Norton initially returned from the service and transferred to Miami (FL) University where he would earn a degree in physical education. After being stationed overseas in Hawaii during World War II, Norton, a Corporal in the Marines, briefly returned to Cal for one year and was a member of the 1946 basketball team.
“I ran out of money when I came back from the service,” Norton said. “I also wanted to study physical education which Cal did not offer. So I made the move. I did come back though and was on the basketball team. I was not in the starting line-up but I was a member of the team.”
Norton moved to Florida in 1947 and began a distinguished career in education in 1948.
He started as a physical education teacher in Emerson Elementary, located in Ponce De Leon, Florida, and then became that school’s principal.
A true up-and-coming educational administrator, Norton then was the principal of Coral Gables Junior High School for five years and then spent another four years as the principal of Coral Gables High School. Norton then became a District Superintendent for 10 years and finally a Deputy Superintendent.
He retired in 1977 after nearly 30 years of enhancing other people’s lives through education and for the past 25 years has resided in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Norton is understandably looking forward to returning to his alma mater and receiving the universities highest athletic honor. Many of his relatives are expected to join him for this auspicious occasion and make tonight’s event a reunion as well.
“It’s a surprise to say the least and I am thrilled to come back,” Norton said. “I have not been back to California in 40 years. I can’t even imagine how the school must look today. It must be completely different. I am glad to hear the football and basketball teams are doing well.”
