Dates

• Existence: 1921 - 2006

Biography

Leslie Norris (1921-2006) was a Welsh poet and professor in Utah. He worked at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Leslie Norris was born in Methyr Tydfil, Wales on May 21, 1921. Leslie grew up in Wales during the Depression and enjoyed a number of sports as well as reading. During World War II he was in the Royal Air Force before being discharged due to a training accident. Eventually he attended college at the City of Coventry College of Education and the University of Southampton. From there he began teaching, and would eventually become a Principal in West Sussex. This began a lifelong love of teaching.

Leslie Norris was married to Catherine Mary Morgan in July 1948, and they remained married until his passing in 2006. They had no children.

In 1958, Leslie began teaching at the University level in Sussex. Later he would teach at the University of Washington as a visiting professor, became the resident poet at Eton College, and was a visiting professor at a number of universities before coming to Brigham Young University (BYU), where he remained for the rest of his career. His teaching served as a great catalyst for budding writers, and Norris was often sent work by others who were seeking advice. Even after retiring from teaching, he remained the Poet in Residence at BYU. In addition to teaching Norris was a prolific writer, predominantly in poetry with which he published several volumes of poetry. He was also adept at writing short stories, and has published numerous stories, including several volumes of his stories. He would also write biographies, reviews and translations, and altogether published over twenty books, including several children's books. He was given numerous awards and honors for his writing, as well as his continuous support and love for arts and humanities. Norris was frequently involved in various literary events, especially readings.

Leslie Norris passed away in Provo, Utah on April 6, 2006.

Citation:

New York times, via WWW, April 12, 2006 (Leslie Norris; b. George Leslie Norris, May 21, 1921, Wales; d. Thursday [Apr. 6, 2006], Orem, Utah, aged 84; noted poet who most recently was a professor and emeritus poet in residence at Brigham Young University)

Leslie Norris papers, 1921-2006 (Leslie Norris; born in Methyr Tydfil, Wales on May 21, 1921; grew up in Wales during the Depression; enjoyed sports and reading; in the Royal Air Force during World War II; discharged due to a training accident; attended the City of Coventry College of Education and the University of Southampton; began teaching; became Principal in West Sussex; married Catherine Mary Morgan in July 1948; no children; in 1958, began teaching at the University level in Sussex; taught at the University of Washington as a visiting professor; became the resident poet at Eton College; was a visiting professor at a number of universities before coming to Brigham Young University (BYU), where he remained for the rest of his career; remained the Poet in Residence at BYU; prolific writer, predominantly in poetry; published several volumes of poetry; adept at writing short stories; published numerous stories, including several volumes of his stories; wrote biographies, reviews and translations, and altogether published over twenty books, including several children's books; received numerous awards and honors for his writing)

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