He never spent a day attending Chapman University, but Joplin High School graduate and May 22 tornado victim Will Norton will always be considered a part of the school.
Chapman held a memorial service Thursday for Norton, who had planned to attend the school this fall:
Mark Norton said it was comforting to know his son had such an impact.
Clips from Will's videos played during the service, and some students handed out gray wristbands inscribed with, "In Memory of Will Norton."
Chapman President Jim Doti said he had followed Will's story closely, and read from his application essay during the service, speaking of the need to take lessons from his life.
"We need to do everything we can to keep that spirit alive – his life, his spirit, and that incredible smile," Doti said.
Trisha Norton, Will's mother, still can't get herself to drive on the street where Will was last seen, though her house is just three blocks away. But the other day, a friend drove by and reported that bunches of flowers had been placed at the site where the tornado took her son. Though she's comforted by very little these days, she said that made her happy.
"We didn't know, but it was like he was trying to fit a whole life into 18 years," Trisha Norton said. "Live your life like Will."
(Orange County Register photo)
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Stories on the late Will Norton and his impact can be found in the new book, 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado, which is available at this link.
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