Bill Norwood

Bill Norwood was born on December 4, 1951, to Bill and Nancy Norwood of Guntersville, Alabama. Bill Sr. was a career Navy man. While his parents and three younger brothers continued to move around, as was the military lifestyle, Bill was given the opportunity to settle down at one high school to continue his academics and athletics. He remained in Guntersville living with relatives, the Don Wolford family. Bill was an outstanding football, basketball, and baseball player for the Marshall County High School Wildcats from 1967-1970 and received scholarship offers in all three sports. Bill was selected as the Alabama State Back of the Week for leading the Wildcats from a 20-0 halftime deficit to a 21-20 come-from-behind win against Arab High School in 1969. He was also selected All-County, All-Northeast Alabama Conference (NEAC), Second Team All-State, and as a Sunkist Honorable Mention All-American in football. He had a career record of 121 completions, 260 attempts, 15 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. At that time, he was ranked third all-time in passing at MCHS.

Bill's most outstanding athletic accomplishments came as a pitcher on the baseball diamond. After his senior year, Bill was chosen for the Lions Club State Baseball North-South All-Star game in Birmingham, Alabama. His performance led to his selection as the MVP of the North All-Star team. Following graduation, Bill accepted a baseball scholarship to Louisiana Tech University.

As a senior in 1973, he was the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year; the statistical leader with 74.1 innings pitched; and made the All-Conference Team. That year Bill had an overall record of 8-2 with a 1.33 Earned Run Average (ERA) and led his team to the NCAA Regional playoffs. In a game against eighth-ranked Pan American, Bill pitched the team to a 3-2 win. La. Tech went on to beat the University of Texas the next day before falling one game short of making it to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Following graduation, Bill began a 30-year career in the medical supply business for Henry Schein Medical. He is an active member of the West Monroe, Louisiana, First Assembly of God and a member of the church's administrative board. Bill is married to Catherine Coleman of Guntersville. He has three children, Kate Young and Abbey Norwood of Dallas, Texas, and Emma Caraway of West Monroe, Louisiana. He also has three grandchildren, Olivia Caraway, Ellen Caraway, and Allie Norwood.