Robert C. Norris

1929 - 2019

Robert C. Norris obituary, 1929-2019, Colorado Springs, AZ

FUNERAL HOME

Shrine of Remembrance

1730 East Fountain Blvd.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Robert Norris Obituary

Norris
ROBERT C. NORRIS
April 10, 1929 November 3, 2019
Robert C. Norris, husband of the late Jane W. Norris, passed on peacefully in the care of Pikes Peak Hospice, November 3, 2019, surrounded by his family. "Bob" was born on April 10, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to Dellora and Lester Norris. He attended Elgin Academy in St. Charles, Illinois, where he grew up. He attended the University of Kentucky, where he played football under Coach Paul William "Bear" Bryant.
On June 24, 1950, he married his wife, Jane Wright, and in 1953, the couple moved to Colorado where they created their permanent home in the Broadmoor area, and later created a winter home in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
In 1950 Bob went into the horse and cattle business, with one of his first purchases being the T-Cross brand-the first brand registered in Colorado. A few years later Norris established that brand with the purchase of 20,000 acres that became the start of the T-Cross Ranch south of Colorado Springs, later to be home to 150 head of horses and more than 1,000 cow and calf pairs, and eventually to expand to a 63,000 acre spread. A second ranch was later established in Arizona. After 69 years, the T-Cross Ranches have one of the most distinguished reputations in the industry, with well-established leadership in both Quarter Horse and cattle operations.
If any man could be described in three words, for Bob they would be "the real deal." His solid authenticity, whether astride a horse, sitting in a board room, mentoring a child or sharing a moment with a friend, was his personal and professional brand. No doubt it was these qualities-along with his tall, ruggedly handsome, lanky good looks-that landed him the unexpected role of the first Marlboro Man on television.
For a number of years, Norris was a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, also known as the Cowboy Hall of Fame, which inducted his friend John Wayne. Norris began serving on the Board of Directors in 1972 and remained on the board until his own induction, at which time he was included in a special category: The Hall of Great Westerners.
What made Bob a great Westerner were qualities like fairness and generosity, paired with shrewd management and a keen eye for quality. His cattle, including Herefords, Salers and a mix of the two, attracted attention world-wide. The ongoing development of the American Quarter Horse was one of his prime interests, and his ranches produced a long list of champions.
Norris served as 1982 American Quarter Horse Association president, as President of the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association, and served on numerous boards, including the FBI Citizens Academy in Arizona, the Colorado Board of Agriculture, the Pikes Peak Cattleman's Association, to name only a few. He received a 55- year pin for Pikes Peak Range Riders in 2017, and became an honorary member of Cowboy Artists of America. His love of the arts also brought him to the founding board of the Colorado Festival of World Theatre.
Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell praised Norris for "embodying the spirit of the West." Indeed, Bob sometimes seemed a real-life example of a Louis L'Amour character. Bob was an avid reader of L'Amour, whose own commitment to authenticity and personal experiences made his characters and stories ring true. Norris and L'Amour met and became fond acquaintances.
In the 1980s, Bob was called upon to represent thirty-seven of his family members who owned stock in Texaco in what was then the largest lawsuit in the U.S. He was tasked with organizing a committee to ensure shareholders were treated fairly when Texaco, the nation's third-largest oil company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Bob helped negotiate the settlement down to 3 billion dollars in 48 hours, preventing a hostile takeover and saving pensions for thousands of retirees.
In 2003, Bob adopted a baby elephant that had been orphaned in Zimbabwe. When "Amy" got too big for the ranch-eight feet tall and weighing in at 4,000 pounds-he sent her to Buckles Woodcock in Florida, where she enjoyed a comfortable, humane life among other elephants. In her retirement, Amy lived at the Fresno Zoo, once again finding a home with animal companions and benevolent humans who cared for her. Norris continued to visit Amy throughout her life until her passing in 2016. The unusual relationship between Cowboy Bob and Amy the Elephant is chronicled in A Cowboy and His Elephant by Malcolm MacPherson, published in 2001. The beautiful story is told again in the children's book Cowboys Love Elephants Too by his daughter Carole Sondrup, which was published in 2018 and won the prestigious 2019 Mom's Choice Award.
Bob was a man of unassuming manner that belied his vast accomplishments. A devoted husband and father, he doted on his grand-children and great-grandchildren, and cherished the homes he and his wife created. Bob and Jane loved their communities and their friends. They were the oldest members of the Cheyenne Mountain Country Club, and decades-long members of Garden of the Gods Club, Broadmoor Golf Club, and the Paradise Valley Country Club in Arizona.
Norris considered the highlight of his life to be "the joys of family working together" on the ranch. The family legacy continues with the T-Cross ranches in Colorado and Arizona, and with son Bobby's successful ranch and horse-training operation near Fort Worth, Texas.
Bob is survived by his eldest sister Lavern Gaynor of Naples, Florida; and by his and Jane's four children: Steve Norris; Carole Sondrup and son-in-law Ron Sondrup of Windsor, Colorado; Leslie Penkhus and son-in-law Bob Penkhus of Colorado Springs; and Bobby Norris and daughter-in-law JJ Norris of Ft. Worth, Texas.
Bob is also survived by thirteen grandchildren including (children of Steve Norris) Shada Brazil, Steven Norris, and Kayla Norris; (children of Carol and Ron Sondrup) Ryan Sondrup, Jennifer Dunn, and James Sondrup; (children of Leslie and Bob Penkhus) Robbie Penkhus, Jamie Cohen, and Chad Penkhus; and (children of Bobby and JJ Norris) Ashley Norris, Audra Norris, Gates Norris, and Rhett Norris. Bob is also survived by eighteen great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held Friday, November 8 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm at the Norris Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs. Funeral services are private and private entombment will be at the Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum, Gate of Heaven, alongside his beloved wife, Jane, who preceded him in death in 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Roundup for Autism www.RoundupForAutism.org or to TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) www.taps.org/colorado which helps families of fallen veterans.

Published by The Gazette on Nov. 7, 2019.
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Norris

Not sure what to say?





Well to the family. This photo is for Robert. The cowboy song I know , Ghost Riders in the Sky. Dad used to sing the song.

Tracie Harp

November 19, 2019

"Well done good & faithful servant.."
May our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ Welcome you Home Bob..
We love you.

Sid Ford

November 11, 2019

My sincere condolences to the entire Norris family and dear friends. May your hearts and thoughts be full of wonderful memories .
Clint Orms

Clint Orms

November 10, 2019

My sisters and myself worked at Valley-Hi Stables when we were kids. We met Mr. Norris when he and friends had cutting horse competitions in the corral there. He was a kind person and a true American cowboy. Our condolences to the Norris family. He was a great cowboy and gentleman.

PETE SCHLADWEILER

November 10, 2019

My father and I met Mr. Norris and his son Steve in Amarillo Texas at the American Quarter Horse Junior Association Convention. I was President of the Texas Junior Quarter Horse Association. Mr. Norris was such a nice Gentleman!! My father has since passed and perhaps they are having breakfast together upstairs . Steve was great, too. Definitely a reflection of his dad. Until today, I didn't know he was the Marlboro Man!! But he was not one to brag about such things, total class act!! I am sure his family is missing him, I am proud to have known him!

Robin Spencer

November 10, 2019

PETE SCHLADWEILER

November 10, 2019

i am the former owner of hichman trailer garage, jerry schreiner. since the early 70's to 2003 i worked on the trucks and trailers of T CROSS ranches. i knew bob and family very well. he was alwaks a gentleman and honest man. he will be missed and i really loved knowing that man and his boys. rip my friend, jerry schreiner and family.

November 10, 2019

My sympathy to all of Mr. Norris's family. I met him many years ago as a 3rd grade teacher at Broadmoor Elementary School (1968_1970)and one of his sons was my student. Wish I could recall the name. Mr. Norris will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Sharon Delzer

November 10, 2019

My wife and I attended a Sunday brunch at the Broadmoor. Hotel, and when leaving I waited for my wife who was in the ladies room. Robert Norris was leaning against a wall with his cowboy hat pulled down over his eyes waiting for his wife. I spoke with him for a while and he told me of his life. I was born in 1952, so was a child during the Marlboro Man years. Turns out my mothers friend Neil McBain was the Leo Burnett ad man who co created the famous campaign. Robert and I shared advertising stories, I was an advertising photographer, and I enjoyed our few moments together. Our wives returned and we parted ways. In just those few moments I felt I had made a new friend. I was surprised to read that Robert was raised in St Charles IL, as I was raised next door in Wayne IL. My condolences to his family, he was a good man, you could tell.

Casey Sills

November 10, 2019

My sincere condolences to the Norris Family for their loss. I had the privilege of working in a business relationship with him and various other members of your family for over 30 years before my retirement in 2006. It was an honor to have known and worked with him.

David Benko

November 9, 2019

David Benko

November 9, 2019

I worked for the Phillips Ranch near Frisco, Texas for many years and Bob used to bring mares down to be bread, I got to know him and liked him very much. He was a gentleman and always appreciated anything you did for him. I visited the T-Cross Ranch many times and was treated like royalty. RIP Mr. Norris Jim Slater

Jim Slater

Friend

November 9, 2019

My condolences. As a child Thanksgiving was with Aunt Betty and Uncle Vester and Dad would say that is Aunt Betty's sister and her son the Marlboro Man.Some years past and Dad said, He stopped being the Marlboro Man. (this is all I know) My hat off to his great work at the Ranch.

Tracie Harp

November 9, 2019

We are so sad to hear of the passing of Bob Norris.
We worked with him when he had the Ranch out at Boyero,Colorado. He was a man of a lot of great accomplishments. He will be missed. Sending our prayers to all of his family and children. R I P Robert Norris

Jim and Janet Connelley

November 8, 2019

I am so sorry for your loss. Bob was a wonderful person and liked by many. He had a lasting influence on the Quarter Horse and cattle industry as well as the Colorado Springs community. He will be missed very much and by many

Sandra Matthews

November 8, 2019

True Original Rocky Mountain "GENTLEMAN"!!

Gene Schön

Friend

November 8, 2019

a loved one

November 7, 2019

a very big loss for our community. I worked for the ranch after school in Peyton, Learned a lot of what I know there

Rick Looper

November 7, 2019

I worked as a housekeeper for Mr and Mrs Norris from 1981 to 1986. They were both the sweetest people and treated me with such kindness. I am sad to hear that Mr Norris has passed but I know he is happy to be reunited with his wonderful wife, Jane. Rest In Peace.

Monica (Adamson) Staab

November 7, 2019

Our heart is broken. We loved him dearly.
He was a glorious man, a glorious friend and a glorious human being. We will be eternally grateful that he was our friend.
Suzy and Pino Bassani

Suzy Bassani

November 7, 2019

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Memorial Events
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Nov

8

Celebration of Life

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Norris Penrose Event Center

1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs, CO

Funeral services provided by:

Shrine of Remembrance

1730 East Fountain Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80910

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