Norville R. Carter – circa 1954
Norville was the first born of three siblings, which included Henry and Joyce, at home at 5233 S. Prairie Avenue in Chicago to the late Alphonso Luckett Carter (03/10/1913 Jackson, TN – 08/22/1992) and Geraldine Little Carter (04/23/1915 Atlanta, GA – 09/01/1996) on February 6, 1938. Norville grew up on Chicago’s Southside, attending the Burke School at 54th and South Park Avenue (now Martin Luther King Drive). Schoolwork came easy for him and was almost always the “teacher’s pet”. In 6th and 7th grade he was appointed the “bell monitor” for his maturity and trustworthiness, as the school had a manual bell system.
For 8th Grade, Norville transferred to the Lewis-Champlain School where he became the 1st Lieutenant of the Marshals, even though he was the shortest boy in the class. He went on to attend Englewood High School and graduated as the Battalion Commander of the ROTC group and captain of the rifle team. He then attended Southeast Junior College (together with Fenger J.C. went on to become Olive-Harvey College) where he received an Associate Arts Degree.
Norville’s Scouting career began in 1947 when he joined Cub Scout Pack #3534 sponsored by St. Mark M.E. Church. At age 11, he joined Boy Scout Troop #534 (HEY!) under the leadership of Scoutmaster L.O. Lee where he eventually attained the rank of Life Scout. Unfortunately, Norville failed to earn Lifesaving Merit Badge soon enough to qualify for Eagle. While in the Troop, Norville held every office from Assistant Patrol Leader to Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. In terms of the Order of the Arrow, he was inducted to Ordeal membership and Takodah Chapter on 08/24/1953 at Camp Dan Beard. He sealed his membership in the Order on 04/24/1955. Norville served as the Chief of Takodah Chapter and was the Owasippe Lodge Vice-Chief under Frank Collins. Unfortunately the duties of Vice-Chief conflicted with Norville’s studies and he elected to resign to focus on his schooling.
For his years of service to Scouting and especially his work on staff at Owasippe Scout Camp Norville was inducted into the Vigil Honor on 08/13/1961 while a member of Matoka Chapter. Norville was given the Indian Name of Elenapewian – Thou Indian! in recognition of his recurring role as Meteu in both the Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies of the Order. Norville had joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1961 (the same year Ron Temple served as the National O/A Chief); he had to seek special permission from his Commanding Officer for leave to return to Owasippe for his Vigil Induction. In 1961 Norville attended the first of his many National O/A Conferences to support our hometown son Ron Temple.
Norville met his future wonderful wife Alice Pharr through her sisters at the Berean Baptist Church when Norville joined the Church’s choir. They were married in 1969 and had three children Karyn, Michael, and Brian. He was employed by IBM for 25 years as a customer engineer. As retirement in 1993 did not agree with him, he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as an electronic technician and retired in 2008. Outside of work, Norville remained active with Scouting in both the Chicago Area and Calumet Councils as a District Chairman/Commissioner in the DuSable/Greater Southside Districts in CAC, and as a Troop/Pack Committee Chairman in Calumet Council. He has served as a Scoutmaster, Explorer Advisor, Sea Explorer Skipper, and is currently the COR at St. Mark Church.
Norville first attended Owasippe as a Scout in 1952 at Camp Blackhawk. The following year he went to Camp Beard. Both trips were by train. He worked a total of three years on camp staff – Blackhawk 1954 and 1956, and Beard in 1955. The Camp Directors were Carmen Carsello, Russell Olsen, and Mark Frank, respectively. On reflection, Norville believes that working on camp staff gave him the ability to work with others for a common goal and develop life-long friendships. In the community, Norville became a Freemason in North Star Lodge #1 of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1992; he served as the Worshipful Master in 2005. He is a Past Patron in Plumbline Chapter #109-OES. He has been a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church since age 12 where he has served in a multitude of leadership roles.
Norville R. Carter – circa 2017
He is a life member of the First Marine Division Association, the Owasippe Staff Association, the NRA and Illinois State Rifle Association, the National Association of Masonic Scouters, Life member of the American Legion.
Norville feels that the Boy Scouts of America is the premiere boy organization in America and the world. The O/A is the Honor Society of the BSA. Although Norville received his Vigil Honor 55 years ago, he still considers it to be the solidification of all his Scouting values since becoming a Tenderfoot Scout in 1950; these values remain with him today. He advises the Scouts of today not to ever sacrifice those values for anything in life.