Mystery illness sidelines grad’s future plans

By Millie Diaz
Staff Writer
    The tenacity of people differs from one person to the next, depending on how early the lessons of bittersweet life come at you. For some it's not until adulthood, and for others it's a little earlier in life. Even still, one’s strength of purpose can be made at an inopportune time, such as one's senior year of high school, as it was for recent graduate Anthony Norman. In the middle of his most prosperous year at Edna High School, Norman was struck with an illness doctors couldn't quite pinpoint.
    At the beginning of his senior year, he was president of his class, football captain, drum major, Interact club vice-president, National Honor Society treasurer, president of the Science Olympiad club, and was first in his class (and had been since before high school). Assistant principal and Norman's speaking coach, Bobby Mowles, noticed his perseverance, especially in his senior year.
    "As far as his work ethic and leadership skills, he is second to none, I don't know of any other students who are involved in the number of activities he is involved in, that could keep up with all of it – much less remain among the top of his class academically," Mowles said, adding that he'd known Norman for a long time.