Back in the early years, Seafair was a week-long celebration. The clowns were kept busy with several parades, charity appearances at hospitals and nursing homes, and parties at night. Now the event spans over a month, kicking off this year on July 1 with the Milk Carton Derby races at Green Lake and culminating with the hydroplane races on Lake Washington, August 4-6. 

The Seafair Clowns are in demand year round and are invited to local charity events and festivals throughout the Northwest, and around the world. Their motto is: "Keep 'em Smiling!" Norrie went 20 years without missing an event. He admits to slowing down a bit, but he is still having a great time clowning and has no plans to quit. 

Norrie enjoys the visits to hospitals and other places where he can spread laughter and good cheer. He says, "Bringing smiles to people's faces makes you feel good!" So many interesting and wonderful things have happened to him over the years, that it is hard to pick any one event as his favorite. The memories of making people laugh are many. 

When not in greasepaint, Norrie has been a real estate broker for over 20 years, and he still works three days a week for the Red Carpet School of Realty. After work, he spends several hours with his wife, who is living in an adult family home. She suffered a stroke a few years ago, and although she is paralyzed and in a wheelchair, Norrie still manages to take her out to their favorite spots on Hood Canal and Seaside, Oregon a few times each year.

Fellow Seafair Clown Scott Hogan, 43, has childhood memories of Norrie driving the surrey for the neighborhood kids back in the '60s.  Scott says, "It seems that with clown costumes you never age, because the costume stays the same. It is more you than even a fingerprint. So, to me it seems like Norrie has never changed."