Ellis “Elly” R. Norton

A Fluvanna resident celebrated another milestone birthday on Friday.

Ellis “Elly” R. Norton celebrated his 100th birthday. Born Jan. 31, 1925, he graduated from Bemus Point High School in 1942 and later earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Syracuse University in 1952 and 1953, respectively.

Norton also served his country during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945. After his return from World War II, he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart Mary Lou Norton (Carlson) on Nov. 11, 1945.

Norton was inducted into the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. He was an acclaimed five-sport athlete at Bemus Point High, earning multiple letters in baseball, basketball, football, volleyball and golf. He was the captain and best athlete on “Pointer” team that won several league titles and All-Star honors for himself.

Stuart C. Maguire, sports editor of the Jamestown Post-Journal, called Norton the “Red Grange” of six-man football in Chautauqua County. “He has everything the game requires, being a fine ball-carrier, passer, receiver and kicker. In the six-man game, a back must be expert in catching as well as receiving passes. They haven’t found one yet who can throw and catch the ball on the same play, but Norton comes close to that proficiency. Yea, he’s that good,” wrote Maguire.

He went on to win a New York state championship while playing Minor League Baseball for Jamestown Steel Partitions then went on to receive a contract from the New York Yankees. He played for the Newark, Ohio, division.

After enduring a shoulder injury, he returned to the Jamestown area where he began his long career as a physical education teacher and a guidance counselor for the Jamestown Public School System. Ellis also held a long-standing career officiating basketball for 38 years, football for 42 years, and track and field for 12 years.

“Not only did he have a long, amazing career but he is the most respected and remarkable man, friend, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle anyone could ever ask for,” his family said.