Check Out George Norkus’ Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to George Norkus.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
As a “normal” child during the first grade, I had many things to play with. One that had my attention at the time was miniature metal Tonka toy cars and trucks. After a while, I thought about building a service station for them. A couple of days later as I walked to my school, I noticed that a neighbor was throwing away a small brown box. Looking at it as a nice square box to make a garage out of, I hid it to be picked up when I returned from school. 

Later at home, I completely disassembled it, considered what I needed to do, put it all back together, and set it aside. When my father came home from work, he saw it and asked where I got the camera. At that time, I had no idea what a camera was. From there, he told me the basics of them and showed me his camera. That began my love of photography. 

I’m guessing it was about a year later that he brought me to a location where he would interview U.S. Navy test pilots concerning the Vought F-8 Crusader the company he worked for made. He compiled their reports and sent them to the manufacturer to perfect them. It was here that I got to meet Wally Schirra who, for about a half hour each month, would teach me about photography. A couple of years later around 1959, Wally Schirra became one of America’s original Mercury 7 Astronauts. (That is one of my claims to fame! LoL) 

For the next few years, my mother would pay for the various camera needs. We moved to Michigan where I started 5th grade, and was able to pick up a few odd dollars, enough to maintain my photography hobby. 

At Utica High School for three years, I became the Chief photographer for the school’s Yearbook. Afterwards, I joined the U. S. Navy. (That probably had something to do with the studies and talking I had with Wally Schirra earlier in my life.) 

Later I worked for the U.S. Government in Warren, as an Industry Hydraulics Technician. This was for 33 years until retirement, along with 13 “after-hour” years in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. During this time Photography was still in my life, I also married Martha at Greenfield Village and had my daughter Saralyn. We are now in our 40th year of marriage. 

During all this time and after retirement, I had performed a lot of freelance photography for several things. With newspapers, it was covering sports, parades, and special interests. For weddings, I did several types, including a Civil War reenactment. I was probably one of the very few photographers that can say I covered a wedding that General Lee gave away the bride. Another was a Pirate-style wedding, and another was a real traditional Cherokee wedding. Then, there were an assortment of political things, et cetera. 

Now in my 70th year of life, I still photograph for the Macomb Daily Newspaper, do various wildlife and nature things as well as being a member of the Eastside Camera Club in Macomb County where we have various assignments concerning many different subjects. 

It will be a long time for me to give up photography. Eventually, “old age” will slow me down. In the meantime, I’m still having fun! 

George Norkus 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is always a struggle. 

What does success mean to you?
To me, success is when you have accomplished something you have set your goals at. I suppose you could also consider success to be when others acknowledge what you do. 

Many other people only consider success to be when you make a lot of money. If I went with that opinion, there would be no such word as success. 

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028195820434
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/107149080064796

Image Credits
Martha Norkus