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Ring History - Ken Norton Continue...
" The power of positive thinking led Norton by the hand through his rehabilitation, with determination and drive, Norton regained the ability to walk, talk, laugh, and even to chew gum. It is no wonder that he received the Napoleon Hill Award for positive thinking: he deserved it!!
Achievements - Ken Norton is a 1989 inductee of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, a 1992 inductee of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame, a 2004 inductee into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame, and a 2008 inductee into the WBC Hall of Fame. The 1998 holiday issue of The Ring ranked Norton #22 in "The 50 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time." Norton received the Boxing Writers Association of America J. Niel Trophy for "Fighter of the Year" in 1977. Norton, a proponent of motivational author Napoleon Hill's writings, also received the "Napoleon Hill Award" for positive thinking in 1973. In 2001, Norton was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.
Ken Norton was twice voted "Father of the Year" by the Los Angeles Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times in 1977. His son, Ken Norton Jr, played football for UCLA and the NFL. In tribute to his father's boxing career, Ken Jr. would strike a boxing stance in the end zone each time he scored a defensive touchdown and throw a punching combination at the goalpost pad.
Ken Norton's other son, Keith Norton, is the weekend sports anchor for KPRC in Houston, Texas.
Ken Norton is very active in children’s charity organizations.