Norman J. Palmer 

Inducted May 2002

Norm Palmer has been involved in all aspects of swimming since the mid 1960’s.  Norm coached the Bangor YMCA swim team for about 17 years before moving on to coach at the Old Town YMCA for another seven years.  Norm twice took his Old Town team to the YMCA Nationals in Florida.  Three times Norm went to Russia with YMCA swimmers from across Maine. 

He was one of the founders of the Maine Swim Officials Association, holding the office of President of the Association twice and serving on the Executive Board for ten years.  Norm was President of the Eastern Maine Chapter of the Maine Swim Official Association twice.  Norm is or has been a certified YMCA, High School, USS, and NCAA swimming official.  He is also certified as a National YMCA swim official certification instructor. 

Norm has officiated at all levels of swimming in Maine.  Until his retirement from officiating in 2001, he could be seen on the deck at just about every championship meet held in Maine.  He worked the Maine High School Swimming State Championships in every capacity including being a referee for more than twenty years. 

Norm also worked University of Maine home meets and served as a referee at the America East Championships at U Maine for many years.  He is on the Board of Directors for the University of Maine Swimming and Diving Foundation. 

In 2000, the National Federation of High Schools honored Norm by presenting him with the Distinguished Officials Award for the Northeast Region of the United States.  The University of Maine Swimming and Diving Team has the Norm Palmer Academic Award, which is presented to the graduating senior with the highest academic average for his or her four years at the University.  Norm is a true friend of swimming in Maine.