As the granddaughter of Matanuska Valley colonists and a Palmer High School graduate, Ann Norris is
Alaska Grown from the other side of Chugach Range.  Her parents, Bob and Gayle Rowland,
raised their family of four boys and one girl, teaching them gardening, hunting, and fishing and
being grateful to God who provided these things.  One of her first jobs was gardening at the
Alaska State Fairgrounds.  She graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane, where she
majored in Biology and met Kipp.

Kipp Norris, son of Frank and Treva Norris, grew up on a small farm in Springdale, Washington. His
dad was a logger by day, and farmer during evenings and weekends. His mom volunteered
relentlessly and worked as a paraprofessional at the elementary school. Kipp grew up doing
chores, shooting squirrels, fishing, building fence, putting up hay, and mostly following his
parents’ instructions. In school, he played football, baseball, and basketball. He attended
Whitworth College in Spokane, where he trained to become a teacher. Kipp taught school in
Ione, Oregon for one year, then in Wilson Creek, Washington for four years. It was during those
four years he met Ann and began to consider looking North to the Future.

Kipp and Ann first visited Valdez together in the summer of 1988 – and only for a couple of
hours. They drove down from Fairbanks on a sunny August day to pick up Ann’s brother, who
zipped over from Cordova on a Boston Whaler so he could be married on the following
Saturday. On that beautiful sunny August day, neither of them had any idea that in just three
years, Valdez would become their much-loved and long-standing hometown.

Kipp and Ann moved to Valdez during the fall of 1991, just before school started, as Kipp’s
Social Studies teaching position at George H. Gilson Junior High School was the job that drew
them here. By the next school year, Ann was hired to teach science at Gilson Junior High. So,
chances are, if you grew up in Valdez during the 1990’s to the 2020’s you have had Mr. or Mrs.
Norris as a teacher.

Both Kipp and Ann love to call Valdez home. They count themselves fortunate to have raised
four children (Hannah, Trevor, Rylee, and Sam) here, with the knowledge that this place
abounds with fantastic opportunities for children. Whether it be academic challenge, school
sports and activities, outdoor adventure, participation in church, vocational training, or summer
jobs, Valdez is a resource-rich environment.

For fun, the Norris’s cherish all the following: church family and friends, walking about town,
time in coffee shops, time on the Queen Ann (boat), supporting school activities, time in his
woodshop and with the sawmill (Kipp), and time in her sewing room (Ann).
Both Kipp and Ann are proud to be citizens of Valdez. They consider it a high honor to
represent Valdez as King and Queen of Gold Rush Days and humbly hope people here
recognize we share a special place in which to live and support one another.