Submitted Photo
Ben Norman is seen in his 1975 graduation photo.
Submitted Photo
Ben holds one of his two sons as a baby. The soft-spoken, but hard-hitting football star will be inducted this afternoon.
Ben Norman followed up an award-laden career at North Surry with a good college career and a brief stay in the NFL.
For his many achievements, the former running back and defensive lineman will be inducted into the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame this afternoon.
Norman flew in from his home in Colorado Friday so that he could attend the induction ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Surry Community College gym in Dobson.
“Ben played football, basketball and track at North Surry from 1971 to 1974,” said Ron King, retired teacher and coach. Ben manned the post in hoops and threw the shot and discus for track.
“He played basketball for me, but of course football was what he really stood out in,” said King, a Hall of Famer himself.
“Among his many all-conference honors and other awards at North Surry was his selection to play in the East-West all-star game in Greensboro in 1974,” said King.
“In practice, we had to be careful a lot of times because we were afraid he would hurt some of his own players,” noted King, who helped with the football squad back then. “He was absolutely one of the hardest hitters I’ve ever seen.”
At a solid 6-foot-1, Ben had the strength to make tackles on defense, but the speed and quickness to dodge tacklers on offense.
“Off the field he was very soft-spoken, quiet, but he would really hit you on the football field,” said the coach.
Now 56, Ben was the oldest of four children.
“Ben was very quiet,” said sister Henrietta. “Kept to himself mainly, that was Ben.”
When he was young, Ben had a stutter, but he worked on it and speaks fine now, she said.
Sports were big in the Norman household, she said. All of them took part in track, and Ben’s younger brothers also played football.
After high school, “Ben received a scholarship to Ferrum Junior College (Va.) where he played one year,” said King. “He then transferred to Walawala Washington Junior College.”
For his last two years, he played at big-time football program Colorado State, which has produced NFL standouts like Joey Porter and Clark Haggans for the Steelers and DE Al Baker who had a great career with the Lions.
After Colorado State, he was picked up as an undrafted free agent. He was briefly on the roster for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
He finally got a chance to be on the field with the Denver Broncos, playing in three games in 1980.
He hurt his shoulder and couldn’t play at full strength, noted King. That kept the coaches from seeing all he could do.
Despite his shortened pro career, Ben did plenty in high school and college to deserve his induction today.
To add to the list of Ben's accomplishments provided to the News by Coach Ron King, Ben led North Surry's football team to the only perfect regular season in the school's history in 1973. During that year, Ben was the team's leading rusher and tackler. In addition, Ben played with Johnny Evans and Ted Brown in the NC high school east-west all star football game in 1973 and was cited in the Greensboro Daily News for his outstanding performance as defensive end. Despite having played as a running back at Colorado State and in the NFL, he was equally talented on either side of the line, and his college coaches had a difficult time deciding whether to play him on offense or on defense.
In track and field, Ben did much more than throw the shot put and discuss. Ben currently holds the school record for the shot put with throws exceeding 54 feet. Moreover, he was undefeated in the 100 and 220 yard sprints during his senior year. In fact, during the conference track meet in spring 1974, Ben placed first in four events, the shot-put, discuss, 100 yd and 220 yd sprints.
I was not surprised that Ben submitted a picture of himself holding one of his sons; rather, than an action photo from Colorado State or the Denver Broncos. Ben was always known for his humility as well as his ferocity on the gridiron. I was lucky enough to have played football for my father and served as a team mate of Ben Norman who was always an inspiration.
Dad would be so pleased that his former players, Ben Norman and F. A. Martin, are being honored in the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame.
Sincerely,
Steve Atkins
Punta Gorda, Florida