Pettis Burch Norman was born January 4, 1939 in Lincolnton, Georgia to Fessor and Elease ‘Eloise’ Booker Norman, the youngest of 10 children. He was 10 years old when his father died and his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended elementary, junior high and high school in Charlotte where he made the team in his junior year and became standout starter in his final year. He enlisted in the Air Force but was granted a release before attending boot camp due to a football scholarship offer from Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black university. He was named the starter and team MVP at spilt end as a freshman. He was a two way player and became a two-time All-CIAA selection.
Upon completing his degree at Johnson C. Smith he was drafted in the 16th round in the AFL draft by the Dallas Texans but wasn’t chosen for the NFL due to the Texans spreading a rumor they had already signed him to a contract. This situation influenced him to join the Dallas Cowboys in 1962 as an undrafted free agent.
Pettis enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard in 1962 and served until 1968 while playing for the Dallas Cowboys. He married his junior high sweetheart, Margaret Ann Clinkscale December 22, 1962 and had three daughters before becoming widowed in 1991. In 1995 he married Ivette Hightower, daughter of the late Master Chief Harry Hightower for whom Hightower Hall at Naval Station Norfolk was named.
A life that was full and giving, the following pages share some of the highlights of his life.
He is survived by his loving devoted wife, Ivette Norman, daughters Sedonna and Shandra Norman, his grandson Pettis Alexander Norman, his sister Gladys, three great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, and a legion of friends.
