Rick Norman and his Writings

Rick Norman is a multi-talented man. He was born on August 27, 1954, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He was a tight end for the Tara High School football team in 1971, the year the Trojans shut out seven opponents in an undefeated regular season. 

He was not interested in reading or grades until his father became ill, and Rick had to sit with him for many days in the hospital.  The only thing that he could do to pass the time was read, and it was at this time that he discovered the joy of reading.  

After graduating from Tara in 1972, he paid his way through Louisiana State University as a coach at St. Thomas More Catholic School in Baton Rouge.  He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pre-Law in 1977 with a 3.78 grade point average, which was a vast improvement from his high school grades.  In 1978, he married Polly Palmer, and in 1979, he received a Juris Doctor Degree.  During college, he was a Court Librarian for the Nineteenth Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge.  After receiving his law degree, he worked as a law clerk, Associate Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney, City Attorney, and Instructor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles. In 1985, he became a partner in the law firm of Woodly, Williams, Boudreau, Norman, Brown & Doyle, LLC in Lake Charles.

After Rick married, became a lawyer, and had children, he felt that life was perfect.  But then, he became ill and thought that he was going to die.  He began writing ideas that he planned to tape to give to his children after his death at the important times of their lives - first dance, first car, etc.  Eventually, he realized that he was not that ill and was not going to die anytime soon.  But, he had written a lot of interesting stories, and these ideas are what eventually became his novels and short stories.   Fielder's Choice  was published in 1991, and Cross Body Block in1996.  Fielder's Choice is about Jackson Fielder who makes good choices and bad choices as he passes through childhood, professional baseball, World War II, and a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Cross Body Block continues Fielder's story as a high school coach with teenagers of his own .  Rick Norman currently writes short sports clips for public radio in Boston, Massachusetts as he practices law.

Rick periodically returns to Tara High School to share his love of writing with students.