Norma Gribble

is honored with a Brick from James R. Gribble.

Norma Gribble: a name synonymous with sincerity, dedication, and persistence; an individual who accepts all responsibilities, personal and professional, as a challenge to do the best possible within her capabilities.

Norma's professional career, spanning over forty years, resulted in many life-long friendships, titles, and awards on the local, regional and national levels. During this time she also raised two beautiful daughters and took great pride in excelling as wife, mother, and homemaker as well as community volunteer. Norma retired from her professional duties at WSU in 1994. Her family takes great pride in including her in the Plaza of Heroines.

Sbmitted by Richard Gribble

Norma's daughters say the following:
As I reflect on my mother's accomplishments, a long list of professional associations comes to mind. For the last twenty-five years she has served various foundations, councils, task forces, and committees. I also think of the many awards she has received through her years as an educator and professional in education. I think the Bittner National Award for Distinguished Service is the one she is most proud of. She has also served her community well as a volunteer for everything from Project Beauty president and Girl Scout cookie chairman to sewing lap quilts for a retirement home sponsored by her church women's group.

I can't begin to count the number of lives my mother has touched through the years. To so many people she is known as a teacher, member, chairperson, representative, leader, inspiration, director, liaison, and driving force. To me she is all of these things, but it is with pride and love that I call her Mom.

Sbmitted Carol Krehbiel

Like many people, I didn't begin to truly appreciate my mother, Norma Gribble, until I had children of my own. My mother postponed her career to stay home and care for me and my sister, while serving Wichita through various volunteer organizations. When we were older, she returned to college and to work at WSU in the Department of Continuing Education. She was an adult student, completing her Bachelor's Degree in General Studies and her Master's in EducationaI Administration. This experience enabled my mother to help many other adults fulfill their educational dreams as she served as the Director of Academic Outreach until she retired.

My mother has faced life thus far with determination and a "can-do" attitude, which I believe she has successfully passed along to her daughters. Her confidence in me and her encouragement to always do my best has helped me to succeed, even in engineering and management where women are still a minority. In spite of the normal frustrations of life as a working mother, raising two girls through the turbulent '60's and 70's, and personal health challenges, she has been, and continues to be, an inspiration and encouragement to me.

Sbmitted by Cindy Wise

July 17, 1998