Norman Sanford

Norman Sanford moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming with his parents Tom and Kate Sanford when Norman was 4 years old. Norman lived and ranched in Thermopolis until his death in September 9, 2003.

Norman worked for his father Tom on the ranch from the time he was 14 years old. Tom and Norman gathered horses for the U. S. Army in the 1930's. Norman said he would just get a horse going good when Tom would take the horse and sell him and give Norman another bronc to ride and train.

Norman rode on the wagon for The Padlock Ranch until it was sold to the Arapahoe Tribe and became the Arapahoe Ranch.

Norman ran track at Hot Springs County High School and won second place at State. Norman graduated from high school in the spring 1941 and enrolled in the University of Wyoming in the fall of 1941. December 7, 1941 the Japanese Empire bombed the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Norman enlisted in the Army Air Forces in January of 1942. Norman became a tail gunner on a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber. Norman flew 65 combat missions, Norman was shot down twice once they had to ditch in the English Channel and the second time December 25, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge and Norman had to parachute out of a burning plane.

Norman came home from the war and resumed his studies at U of Wyo and graduated in range management in the spring of 1947.

In August 12, 1947 Norman married Kathleen "Kay" Elizabeth Long whose family were long time ranchers from Buffalo, Wyoming. Norman and Kay have four sons Tom, Brian "Barney", Norman Lee, and Frank. Norman worked for Tom Sanford until the mid 1950's, when Tom sold Norman Red Canyon west of Thermoplolis and the Reck Place on Lysite Mountain.