Lighting the Way: Norris paves his own way

One of Noble REMC’s youngest and newest employees, Lane Norris, won’t hit his one-year mark on the right-of-way crew until September. But he’s not one to shy away from a challenge.

From bull riding to firefighting, he’s proud to be forging his own path in life, and that includes his career in the electric industry.

Let’s learn more about Lane:

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING AT THE CO-OP?
I enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy being able to see nature — the way it works, the way it hurts us and the way it helps us — and being able to see if we can tame it or not.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
It depends on the weather. If we have a snow week, we’re stuck inside all week. If we don’t, we’re out every morning when the clock hits 7:30 to trim and chip.

WHAT’S ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT COME WITH YOUR JOB?
Some people don’t like us trimming trees, especially if they have a past with that tree or it meant something to them. Most of them understand, but for those who don’t, we’re just trying to keep your electricity on.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF THE CO-OP?
I have quite a few different hobbies. My wife and I are big into off-roading, four-wheeling, trail riding. We also just started a little health journey. We’re doing a lot of biking and running. I also enjoy being on Sparta Township Volunteer Fire Department. We have a lot of trainings, a lot of working out, exercising for that.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
I grew up just outside Albion, toward Kimmell. I married my wife, Rebekah, in November of last year, and we moved to Cromwell.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR LIFE UP TO THIS POINT?
Creating my own path. My family’s always been generational farmers — it kind of died off a few years ago — but to just start my own journey, not taking after family. Like, the fire department was never part of their journey, so I’m first generation on that too.

WHAT MOVIE HAVE YOU WATCHED THE MOST?
“The Princess Bride.” We watched it as kids all the time.

WHAT’S ONE BAND THAT YOU COULD LISTEN TO ON REPEAT?
Creed. [How did you get into Creed?] Creed was viral on the internet.
I mean, I didn’t just hear it on the radio because it’s not on the radio, right? I got hooked, and I love it. I karaoke it every day in the car at least once.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TV SHOW?
“The Rookie.” It’s pretty, like, low-budget. It’s a really good police drama; the characters draw you in.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT?
We don’t go out to eat very often, but Tokyo in Columbia City. It’s sushi.

WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I’ve loved rodeo since I was a baby. You can ask my parents; I think I wore out all of our VHS tapes of rodeos. That was the best thing, I loved it. It was one of those things I told myself when I was a kid, “I’m gonna do that.”

Right after I graduated, I decided I was going to try it. I ended up driving up to Michigan, and I took a school for it. I competed in two rodeos after that, and then I was done. I never got 8 seconds. But they told me the average person doesn’t until they ride 40 bulls — I rode seven bulls total.