Many High School's Norman Booker remembered for academic, sports accomplishments
Great educator, impassioned coach, controversial figure, innovator, champion of the underdog, believer — lots of words and phrases can be used to describe former Many coach and principal Norman Booker who lost his battle with glioblastoma Friday morning.
Perhaps the 52-year-old Booker’s most visible accomplishment was his 2016 proposal to split public and private schools into Select and Non-Select as members of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. That proposal, when Booker was on the LHSAA’s executive committee, ultimately passed and has been a source of friction within the LHSAA since. But it also allowed public schools, like Many, to have a more equitable shot at winning a state title.
The Many football team has won three state championships and the Lady Tigers’ softball team two since the proposals have been in place. Would the same accomplishments been reached without the split?
“Who knows?” asked former Many football coach Jess Curtis, now the head coach at Natchitoches Central. “Norm was a good man who loved Many High School. Our school flourished under his leadership and he’s the guy who gave me my first head coaching job. He was a classmate and a friend. I will miss him.”
Booker was one of the best coaches in the state — whether he was creating game plans for football, basketball, softball or baseball teams. But he was undeniably good as a Sabine Parish educator helping Many become an “A” rated school during his tenure as principal.
“Coach Booker had a great love for sports, but he was also dedicated to excellence as a principal,” said retired Sabine Parish Superintendent Dr. Sara Ebarb. “He cared about the academics of his students and wanted to be a top-notch principal.”
Current Many principal Moses Curtis, who was Booker’s assistant principal for more than a decade, grew up playing sports with Booker and his brothers.
“He was a great principal who did so much for Many High School and our students over the years,” Curtis said. “Norman also did a ton for youth sports in Many as he led the youth sports here for a long time. He was a really good man who loved his family tremendously. I was thankful to know him, serve with him and will miss him and his friendship greatly.”
Booker lost his job as Many’s principal in 2020, when he was accused of alleged sexual assaults of two females while he was a Sabine Parish coach more than two decades previously. He was never tried for the accusations.
The Booker most people know was a man who sometimes let his temper get the best of him at sporting events, especially if one of his children was getting a bad deal. His son, Keaton, who has coached the Many softball program to a pair of state titles, says his dad was the “best there ever was.”
“He was stern and tough, but full of love,” Keaton said. “He wanted the best for all of us. He was my best friend. Sports was a huge priority, but following the Lord was definitely at the top of his list. He will be missed tremendously, but my dad left an amazing legacy.”
Visitation for the public will be held at 5 p.m. Monday at the Calvary Baptist Church in Many with his service set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the same location.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Many’s Norman Booker remembered for academic, sports accomplishments
