Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in Jefferson County, 1931 Ronald C. Norman

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, July 9, 1931
Front Page

Who's Who In Jefferson County
By Herbert F. McDougal

Ronald C. NORMAN

Fairfield has an example of a Penney-developed man in R. C. Norman, manager of the local J. C. Penney Company store. For Mr. Norman began his business training with that organization, has never strayed from that fold and is recognized as one of its best products.

When young Norman finished high school in Richfield, Utah, back in 1925, there were just seventy-three Penney stores in existence.

It has taken thirteen years to work out the idea in its practical application to varying conditions, and it was just getting its stride. It still was advertising for men, tempting them with a generous division of the profits and establishing the fact that the theory was sound. When the Fairfield store was established in 1924, it was the 507th. The fame of the Penney organization was spreading. Now there the 1,457 stores scattered over the whole United States, the map being dotted with them. And young men are scrambling to get into the organization and grow up with it.

There are two objectives in the Penney plan--to sell merchandise and to develop men. A good manager has to do both. Mr. Norman has four managers to his credit already. John Montgomery, brought up in the Fairfield store and now the manager of the Mt. Pelasant (sic) business, is one of these.

Maybe there is a third requirement made of Penney men--to be a part of their community, to help develop and enrich it. Penney men are interested in local affairs. Mr. Norman is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served for two years on its board of directors. He is a member of the Lions club, belongs to the Walton club, is a Mason and a Presbyterian. He has made his impress upon Fairfield, and his store is a Fairfield institution, reflecting his personality and his ability.

He was born in Hurley, S. D., November 17, 1898 and lived there until his family moved to Richfield, Utah, when he was twelve. He went through the grades and high school there and emerged to go to work in Penney store Number 22. After, two years he was promoted to Number 14 in Mount Pleasant, Utah. He stayed there for a year and went on to Number 23 at Gunnison in the same state. Two years later saw him the manager. In four more years he had "graduated" from Gunnison and been assigned to Fairfield to open the store here. The first location was on the north side of the square in a single room. The business grew and prospered until larger quarters were needed. Then came the chance to lease the present east side double room, which was remodeled according to the Penney plan, and occupied 10-1-28.

Mr. Norman married Miss Willmetta Wight of Salina, Utah, July 22, 1922. They have two children--Ronald Clyde, 8 years old, and Dean Frederick, 5.