Norman was born in Grafton in 1903 to parents Reverend Mansell Irwin and his mother Lilian Webster. He attended elementary schools in Canton, Newcastle, Cannington and Norwood. In 1919, the family moved to Oshawa where Norman attended secondary school and in 1927 to the Whitby area to the property that was known as Red Wing Orchards. Norman played lacrosse in his teens and twenties and toured the USA with the U of T Lacrosse Team. He was a member of the RCAF and in 1933 was appointed Acting Air Commodore. Norman’s service with the RCAF included being CO of Manning Depot in Toronto, Service at Camp Borden, the establishment of an air force base at Aylmer and CO of the Aylmer Base until his retirement in 1945. Norman’s love of sport was always present as he coached and managed the Townline Peewee hockey teams during the 1940’s. He was also a prime mover in the development of the new arena at Green and Gilbert Streets in Whitby. In addition to sponsoring the 1946 Red Win Jr. “C” Championship Hockey Team, he provided sponsorship to the Allan Cup Champion and World Champion Whitby Dunlop Hockey Team, and was an active supporter and Honorary President of the Oshawa Green Gael Lacrosse Club and additionally was an avid supporter of the Brooklin Redmen Sr. Lacrosse Club. Norman’s life achievements included being names to the King New Year Honour lise in 1946 and being presented with the citizen of the year, Peter Perry award in 1962.