John Hughes Norton III – 50th Reunion Essay

John Hughes Norton III

130 North Main Street

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

hughesnorton@sbcglobal.net

216 496-5189

Spouse(s): Candy Bidwell August (1973–1985)

Child(ren): Stephanie (1978), Samantha (1981)

Grandchild(ren): Abby (2013), Georgia (2016), Jack (2017)

Education: Phillips Exeter Academy 1965, Harvard Business School (MBA) 1972

National Service: Maine Army National Guard 1969–1972; US Army Reserve 1973–1975

Career: Entire career at International Management Group 1972-1999. Senior VP at world’s largest sports management firm. Twice named Most Powerful 36 People in Golf. Advertising Age “Top 100 Marketers” award 1997. Won Pebble Beach Pro-Am 1995.

Avocations: Exercise, reading, music, all sports

College: Branford

My first reunion since graduation. Few lasting friendships from Yale. Why?

Fifty years later: glass half full or half empty?

Successful career, failed marriage.

Unscheduled retirement at 50.

Business and personal relationships ended badly.

So focused on the Destination, I forgot to savor the Journey.

Financially secure! Fit, single, mind intact, deteriorating golf game.

Greatest joy: three beautiful grandchildren.

Greatest heartache: my schizophrenic daughter.

Personality change: type-A achiever to semi-recluse, happy doing nothing.

Things I’ve Learned:

• Everything I do, I rush through so I can do something else.
• Under-promise, over-deliver.
• Exercise: the best Rx a doctor can write.
• Be humble, appreciative, grateful.
• Deeds, not words.
• Many loves, one soulmate.
• We are all peddlers, selling something.
• If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.
• To stop and reflect on stuff that matters is really hard.
• What goes around does not necessarily come around.
• Hardest things to say: I don’t know; I was wrong; I need help.
• Keys to retirement: health, finance, and purpose.
• The days are long, but the years are short.
• Nobody goes through life undefeated.
• Time is the enemy of us all.
• Fly first class—because your children will.