Remembering Norman

The Norm I Knew
by Larry Lethgo

Here are a few memories of 'Mr. Wildcat' - Norman Vohs.
In the early 1950s, a new Little League baseball league was formed in Clovis and Norm was our 'assistant coach.' He would make nearly all of the practices and rarely missed a game. As we grew older and moved to the next league, he was right there with us.

We would tease with him while being very protective of him at the same time. I remember when we chased him down and gave him 40 swats on his 40th birthday. He relished the attention and was not upset by being tackled and rolled in the dirt.

Now there was nothing Norm loved more than a Coca Cola. He would always leave home in the morning with 2 dimes in his leather, coin purse. (Remember we could buy a bottle of Coke for a dime then.) By noon he had finished his 2 cokes and was broke. After practice, we would all walk down and get a coke. We would say -- "We will buy you a Coke Norm - if you will kill it." He would open the bottle and we would time him with a second hand. "Ready -- go." He could kill the coke in 3 seconds. Now that had to hurt but he never complained - he was just glad to get his coke.

Apparently some of the older guys had taught Norm some questionable activities --- 'Grab and Growl' and stories he would tell about his 2 girl friends but I won't go there.

The only time I ever saw Norm mad was when an official made a bad call. Most of you have seen him rant and rave about a call --- and you know what - he was usually right on. He was always very upbeat but could get his feelings hurt when teasing got out of hand. There were times when people that didn't know him well would get carried away with teasing and someone would have to step in and say -- 'enough.'

I had surgery the summer after High School and guess who showed up to visit me in the hospital - Norm. After High School I didn't have contact with Norm. So imagine my surprise when on the day of my wedding in 1963 there was a knock on the door. It was Norm. He said, "Laaaarrry cun I ride wiff youuuuu?" So Norm rode with me and sat with my family. I have always wondered how he kept up with such events.

I didn't see him again until 1974. He instantly recognized me and we had a nice chat. Then in about 1992 I was in Clovis on business and asked someone about Norman. They said he was in a nursing home. I walked into the lobby and he was slumped in his wheel chair staring at the floor. I went over and asked the receptionist how he was doing. She said he was really depressed because he didn't have many visitors.

I walked over, leaned down and spoke to him. He raised his head up and said hi and then returned his gaze to the floor. I said, "You don't know who I am?" He said, "No." When I told him my name, he snapped his head up threw his arms around me and gave me a big hug and said, "Let's go to my room and talk." We went to his room and talked for over an hour. We discussed many things, events and people from the class of 1959. I was amazed at the details he could recall. Names, places, dates.

When I left that day he followed me to the parking lot and with a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his lips said, "Thank you for stopping."

Over the years, I have heard Norm called many things.
I prefer to call him 'my friend.'

I remember Norman for his purity of soul and spirit. He never failed us neither with his presence at games, nor in his offering his kind and in-depth knowledge of the stats of all our Clovis Wildcat events. What a memory bank and what joy in expressing our accomplishments! He came to us as a giving and caring individual who somehow had mastered the art of maintaining a high level of consciousness of our youth and exuberance in all our athletic endeavors. Yet, he was as a child who deserved our honor and respect and care. To me, he left us a legacy that far extends the boundaries of mere presence at games: he communicated what was in all our souls to aspire to do well by keeping things simple and to be kind to others in the process of life, regardless of what is handed to you.
Alex P. Sena
Class of 1960
719-633-5866
cssenas@pcisys.net

Norman's brother and sister and their families lived behind us and down the street so Norm was a regular fixture on our part of Axtell Street. As both my parents had know Norman for years, they taught me about respect for all the wonderful qualities Norm possessed, to overlook his disabilities, and never to be unkind from the time I was just a small child. No one knew more about sports and could recall data better than Norm. When I worked for my dad at Jackman's, Norm would often stop in the door just to say hello. Even more amazing after I left Clovis and came back for visits during the holidays, he always remembered who I was. Norman had an incredible mind and with grace and grit dealt with the disability life handed him. He is in the hands of God now and I feel sure he will keep heaven on it's toes! Long live Norman's spirit.

Mykell Jackman Brewer
Class of 1959

I recently moved back into the area and was truly saddened to hear of the death of Norman. May his enthusiasm and Wildcat spirit live on.

Gilbert Baca
Class of 1982

Clovis athletics will never be the same without Norman "Grab em and Growl" Vohs. He was an inspiration to all of us in athletics. He was a great big fan of Wildcat Athletics, and was at every home game and a lot of away games. He always was on the sidelines of the football games, and had a front row seat at the basketball games. He was the number one cheerleader. To have known Norman Vohs was a great honor. Even through his adversities, he had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life to the fullest. The only question I have to ask, is did he get his wish and be buried on the 50 yard line at Leon WIlliams Stadium?Love you Norm. We will all miss you.

Billy Hancock
Class of 1975

I too would like to pay tribute to Norman Vohs for very fond and warm memories that have stayed with me through these many years. He was a unique person from my past that I will always remember. I lived in Clovis from 1946 through 1960 and I remember Norman from all the Wildcat sporting events and the spirit and enthusiasm that he instilled in the fans. He was the ultimate sports fan. I worked for a couple of years at Irby's 5&10 and had more than one enjoyable encounter with Norman on main street. Wherever Norman went anticipation and excitement accompanied him. There were those who were lesser gentlemen than Norman was who ridiculed and made fun of him but to me Norman was always a person I highly regarded as a person who was honest and kind-hearted. I especially remember him at the Clovis Pioneer baseball games at the old "Bell Park" and he brought added excitement to the game by being at the park and giving the umpires a bad time. I think the baseball club had lots of respect for Norman and remember one night when they even let him suit up and play in one inning. It was a real fun evening. I was sorry to hear of his passing and I know the community and the Clovis sports scene is poorer by his absence. May his spirit and enthusiasm ever remain.

Ken Hammack
Class of 1959

Norman was born in Bernalillo on June 15, 1914 and in 1924 his family moved to Clovis where he graduated from Clovis High School in 1936. He died on June 3, 2000 and would have been 86 on June 15.

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In Memory
Memories of Norman Vohs
Remembering Linda
The Ken Hammack I Knew

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