When Norm Naylor ’63 began high school, he met Weaver Thornton, a history teacher who would change the course of his life. Thanks to Thornton’s influence, Naylor attended the University of Redlands’ speech clinic (now Truesdail Speech Center) to combat his stuttering. Each week, Naylor drove to the Redlands campus, and while he applied to several colleges, he knew U of R was where he felt most comfortable.
“Redlands prepared me to be a lifelong student,” said Naylor, who enlisted in the California National Guard three weeks before completing his business and economics degree. He later earned a master's degree from University of La Verne and, later reunited with Thornton as a student-teacher at Chaffey High School.
“Weaver was the most influential person in my life,” said Naylor, who connected with Thornton again at a conference shortly before his passing and taught at Chaffey for 14 years.
During his decorated service in the United States Air Force, Naylor served as a recruiter for the Air Force Academy, representing the institution at college fairs. In 1997, the University’s Office of Admissions asked if he would represent his alma mater at an upcoming fair in Atlanta, as a colleague was unexpectedly unable to attend. After that, Naylor became an invaluable asset to the Admissions team, expanding his service to 10 local fairs in the Tennessee area each year for two decades.
Naylor enjoyed meeting with prospective students at the events, sharing the benefits of Redlands’ small class sizes and personalized approach. “If I could get the students to the campus, I felt like they could experience the sense of community for themselves.”
Naylor said he enjoyed the long-term relationships he built at Redlands—including classmates Tom Tustin, John Demmon, and Ralph Lehotsky—and stays in touch with several students he met at fairs who later attended the University.
In addition to his admissions volunteerism, Naylor served on the University’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, President’s Circle Leadership Committee, Centennial Committee, and his class reunion committee. “The culture of Redlands keeps me engaged,” Naylor said. “Students can become involved as much as they want with their professors.”
His commitment to service extends beyond Redlands, including Zoo Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and Tennessee Achieve, a statewide mentoring organization. In acknowledgment of the exceptional ways he gives back, Naylor received the Alumni Board’s Community Service Award in 2018.
To further honor his gratitude to Redlands, Naylor and his wife Ann have included provisions for the University in their estate plan, including support for an endowed scholarship and Truesdail Speech Center. “Professor Cherry Parker and his team at the speech clinic changed my life, just like Weaver Thornton,” Naylor reflected. “It all began with Redlands.”
For information on how you can create an endowment at the University to support scholarships or a particular U of R program, contact Gabrielle Singh, interim vice president for advancement, at 909-748-8349 or gabrielle_singh@redlands.edu. To inquire about volunteer opportunities at the University of Redlands, email alumni@redlands.edu or call 909-748-8011.
