On Tuesday April 22, 2003 Norman D. Wall, associate director of public safety, was given the Douglas MacArthur Youth Service Award by the Newfield Masons. He is a non-Mason who has given exemplary service to the youth of our community. Norm is a major contributor of time and energy to youth programming in Newfield and Tompkins County.
Norm has been involved in youth sports as a baseball and basketball coach where he has been a positive role model for the kids that he coaches, instituting not only good sportsmanship but also teaching solid life lessons. He is also the codirector of the Newfield youth football program where his role has included organizing the playing season, fund raising, equipment care and maintenance, as well as coordinating with other programs to establish rules and league policies. This program demands hundreds of hours almost year round to keep the program strong.
Norm has had a long history with scouting in Newfield as well. He has held the positions of den leader, treasurer, committee member and cub master. These positions have put him "in the trenches" with the kids doing great things that will have a long term positive effect on our kids.
Whenever there is a group doing a fundraiser or in need of help, he's there. Norm is active in helping the National Junior Honor Society, the school bands, and booster club; he's a member of the Youth Services Committee and has chaperoned many school outings.
His job working in the Ithaca College Department of Public Safety has also put him in a position to have a great effect on youth. He is a member of the Safety Awareness Committee, conducts training sessions for numerous student groups, addresses sports teams on issues of gambling and drug use, and makes guest appearances for professors. Although many of these things come under his profession, Norm always seems to take it a step above "just doing his job."
In most towns there are involved people who coach, teach, and lead our youth, but there are usually just a handful that give total dedication to all the children. These are the people who dedicate their time and energy to the improvement of all our futures by improving our youth. Norman Wall is one of those individuals and this is why he was awarded this honor.
Contributed by Steve Yaple/Mike McLaughlin
