Globe offers coverage of Will Norton press conference

The Joplin Globe's Mike Pound covered the press conference in which family members of Joplin High School graduate Will Norton, who was killed during the May 22 tornado, talked about the discovery of his body and offered their appreciation for the thousands who have been supporting them:

At the news conference, (Will Norton's aunt Tracey) Presslor thanked the more than 150 volunteers who helped search for Will Norton as well as the nearly 30,000 people who supported the “Help Find Will Norton” page on Facebook. Presslor asked those to redirect their efforts to help find other missing tornado victims.


Presslor said Mark Norton will likely remain in Freeman Hospital West for at least a week. She said he is to undergo at least one more surgery in the next few days. Presslor said Norton suffered a broken arm, and upper-body injuries occurred as he desperately tried to hold on to his son and keep him in the vehicle.

“As a dad, you never want to let go of your kid,” Presslor said. “You want to hang onto them.”

Presslor and Ledgerwood were joined at the news conference by Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Watson, who lauded the spirit and determination of Norton’s family and friends.

“Their spirit is much like the spirit of this community,” Watson said. “It’s very strong.”

Presslor said the family takes comfort in the fact that Norton’s body was recovered near the area the vehicle was found.

“At least we know that he was not out there suffering,” she said.