[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 35 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF FRANK MARMADUKE NORFLEET

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 5, 2012

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
legacy of Frank Marmaduke Norfleet. Mr. Norfleet was born in Memphis, 
TN on November 27, 1918 and became a philanthropist as well as an 
outstanding civil and business leader.
  In 1941, Mr. Norfleet joined the Army, serving as a cavalryman and 
tank officer in World War II. A decorated veteran, Mr. Norfleet was 
awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the French Croix de 
Guerre for fighting in The Battle of the Bulge and the Silver Star for 
Valor. After leaving the military, he returned to Memphis in 1946 and 
began working at Parts, Inc., an automotive ``aftermarket'' company and 
eventually led it to significant growth as its Chairman and CEO. In 
1959 he cofounded and became the president and director of the 
Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association. In 1969 he assumed the 
same role with the Automotive Information Council of New York, another 
company that he cofounded. In addition to this, he served as a director 
of First Tennessee Bank for 18 years and at CSX Corp.
  In 1978, Mr. Norfleet founded Forum for a Better Memphis, a short-
lived organization that encouraged and supported political candidates 
who sought to effect positive changes for the city. That year, I ran 
for County Commissioner and became the forum's first beneficiary of 
their support. It was at that time that I had the good fortune of 
meeting and developing a friendship with Mr. Norfleet.
  Mr. Norfleet worked closely with Memphis health organizations and in 
1980, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center named its 
annual healthcare forum in his honor. When he was inducted into the 
Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs in 1997, Mr. Norfleet commented, 
``Being an entrepreneur not only offers opportunities for personal 
financial success but of equal importance is the entrepreneur's ability 
to give others employment and, in many cases, opportunities to make 
charitable gifts to those in need and less fortunate.'' Furthermore, in 
1999, Mr. Norfleet was honored by the State of Tennessee for his long 
history of giving back and working to improve Memphis and Shelby 
County.
  Mr. Norfleet's list of civic involvements is just as extensive. In 
addition to serving as an elder at Second Presbyterian Church, he was a 
founding member of both the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and 
the Economics Club of Memphis. He also served two six-year terms as 
Justice of the Peace for the Shelby County Quarterly Court. Mr. 
Norfleet's other involvements included raising money for Rhodes 
College, the University of Tennessee, Memphis University School, and 
Presbyterian Day School. He also enjoyed his work with the Memphis 
Zoological Society, Elmwood Cemetery and the Memphis Opera Theater 
where he served as the director.
  Friends and family remember Mr. Norfleet as a man of great 
intelligence and enthusiasm. According to his son-in-law and former 
colleague, Alex Thompson, his success stemmed ``not from ambition, but 
the way he was wired and the gifts God gave him.'' Others describe him 
as a mentor who was willing to share his knowledge and experience. 
Pearson Crutcher, the executive director of the Memphis Entrepreneurial 
Society said that Mr. Norfleet ``was one of those people who made your 
life better because you knew him.''
  Mr. Norfleet passed away surrounded by his family at his home on 
February 17, 2012 at 93 years of age. He is survived by his loving wife 
of 69 years, Jean Flanigan Norfleet, three daughters, Janet Sheahan, 
Jean Laughlin, and Frances Thompson, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great-
grandchildren.

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