J. D. NORRIS, JR.

     J. D. Norris, Jr., b January 29,1935 in Falls County, Texas, d August 29, 1985 in Austin, Travis County, Texas while there attending a meeting - was a son of Jeff D. Norris, b December 11,1902 in Georgia, d November 6, 1969 and buried in Clover Hill Cemetery, Lott, Falls County, Texas, and his wife, Edna M. :Davenport) Norris, b July 6, 1905 in Texas, and still residing in 1986 in Lott, Texas. Jeff D. and Edna M. were married June 26, 1920, and they had three children: Harvey Norris, Ruby (Norris) Anderson, and J. D. Norris, Jr., and both siblings survive J. D., Jr.

     J. D. was a graduate of Lott High School and became associated with Torbett-Hutchings-Smith Memorial Hospital in Marlin under the administrator, Tony 3torey, of Lott. After Tony's death ten years later, J. D. was appointed Administrator - remaining in that capacity for twenty years until his unexpected death. It was his idea to develop the Geo-Thermal system installed during

J. D.'s administration at the hospital as m energy-saving project, using Marlin hot mineral water. Visitors come from allover the world to study his unique Geo- Thermal system for possible adaptation to their areas or countries.

     On August 20,1955 in Lott, J. D. Norris, Jr. married Betty Boswank - one of three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Otto A. Boswank of Lott. Betty's sister, Mildred Jean, married Raymond Bailey of Lott, and she was killed in the May 11, 1953 tornado which truck Waco, Texas - leaving a young daughter, Eugenia Bailey. The other sister was Kay Boswank, and here is no further information about her, except that he was alive when Mildred Jean was killed.

     J. D. and Betty Norris were members of First Presyterian Church in Marlin, where he served as an elder, and Betty is a member of the church choir. She is a Teacher's Aide in the Marlin Independent School District. J. D. was a past-president of the Marlin Chamber of Commerce, a Rotarian, and an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. They had three children:

     Natalie Norris-who resides in Austin, Texas.

     Elaine (Norris) Wilhelm - who resides in Venice, Florida.

     John David Norris - is a student in Marlin High School, and resides in Marlin with his mother.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 327 column 2 and page 328 column 1.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.