Norman Bonds

Norman Dale Bonds is the son of Curtis Bonds and Bobbie Helen Clines. He was born on November 14, 1965, in Albertville, Alabama, and grew up in the Pleasant Grove community along with MCSHOF inductee Mike Oliver and other neighborhood friends. Sports were abundant there, with a baseball field and basketball court at the former Pleasant Grove School where they would all meet to play whatever ball they could find, whether it was baseball, basketball or football. Norman has one sister, Donna, and two brothers, David and Jeff. He grew up watching and attending his sister's and brothers' games as they were all very good in their sports: cheerleading, football, baseball, and basketball. Norman started sports at an early age, playing baseball and basketball for recreation leagues and school teams. His "Glory Days" were at Douglas High School, where he was a 3-sport, 3-year letterman in basketball, track, and football. His senior year is still what everyone remembers as "The Greatest Team in Douglas High School History." This Paul McAbee coached "team" posted a 9-1-0 record and is still unmatched by any Eagle squad in the last 30 years. Norman emphasized this was a "team." There were a lot of talented and competitive players on this team but none better than deceased teammate Tim Harmon. "We simply opened a hole and he knew how to run the football." At that time, Harmon held the single season rushing record with 1,304 yards. The defense was not too shabby either, allowing only 83 points and earning 3 shutouts that season. Bonds was a leader on the defense as he caused 5 fumbles, one recovered for a touchdown. He also had 5 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, recovered 3 fumbles, and blocked 2 extra point tries to preserve two 7-6 victories. He also rushed for 340 yards as a blocking fullback. Norman also played basketball for MCSHOF inductee Coach Gerry Ledbetter. As a sophomore, the Eagles finished as area runner-up and in his senior year they defeated the 4A Albertville Aggies for the first time in 16 years. The Eagles went on to win the Area Tournament and fell just 3 points short of a state tournament appearance to an excellent DAR team. Bonds made the All-Area and All-Marshall County Tournament teams.

In his senior year, Norman held a 94 grade point average and had perfect attendance. He attributes this to his assistant principal and former coach, MCSHOF inductee Coach John Allen. "Coach called me in his office one day and told me I was something special and that good grades and an attentive senior year could get me somewhere." Norman felt that this was a huge factor in his opportunity to sign an academic scholarship and play football for The University of the South (Sewanee). As a freshman, Bonds was a big part of Sewanee's defense, starting 6 of 9 games and finishing the season as the 4th leading tackler, a freshman record at the time. The highlight of the season for Norman was the Homecoming game against Washington and Lee. It was 4th and goal late in the game and he sacked the QB to preserve a 16-10 come-from-behind victory. Bonds also played special teams, fullback on goal line offense, and was the back-up punter. Norman transferred to Jacksonville State University for his sophomore year, where he was redshirted. However, he finished spring training by making the traveling squad. Due to some coaching changes during the summer, Bonds decided to give up football and finish his degree in Business Management and Finance. He graduated from JSU in 1987 and came home to be a part of the family business, Bonds Appliance in Guntersville. Norman became half-owner in 1992 and the sole owner in 2005 when his dad retired. His Whirlpool Appliance and Toro Lawn Equipment dealership has won numerous awards over the years, none better than Toro's "Dealer of the Year." Through the years, sports have remained a big part of Norman's life, coaching youth sports for over 20 years. "I've always had a passion to be a positive influence and coach kids the way I was coached." He started out coaching his nephew Quincy Smith. Hall of Fame inductee Nathan Cole was also on that same team in baseball and basketball. He also coached his two daughters and son in softball, baseball, basketball, and football. Playing in numerous basketball and softball leagues over the years one sticks out. He was a member of the Magic Mist softball team in 1990 that played 102 games, finishing 81-21 and winning a State Championship. Norman later helped Barry Mayhall with play-by-play broadcasts of Coach Rex Mitchell's Douglas Eagles football team for six years. At the time of his nomination to the MCSHOF, Norman asked his former coach, Paul McAbee, why he had nominated him. Coach Mc replied that in his 23 years of coaching he only had a handful of players that were difference makers and Norman was one of those. Norman is married to the former Tana Pearce of Guntersville. She is an English Language teacher at Douglas Elementary. They have three children: Savanah Howard is the librarian at Cherokee Elementary; Mackenzie is a senior at Birmingham-Southern College; and Tucker is in the 7th grade at Guntersville Middle School. Norman is also called "Pop" by his spunky two-year-old grandson, Mack.