Kenneth T. Norris Jr.

Kenneth True Norris Jr. (August 16, 1930 – September 21, 1996) was an American industrialist and philanthropist who lived in Huntington Beach, California.

[4] The company was the first to create a seamless bullet cartridge[citation needed] and they became the largest supplier of ammunition to the United States for World War II.

He recognized that the war would not last forever and he prepared for peace and prosperity by acquiring companies that produced items such as sinks, toilets and locks for homes.

[5] This included companies such as Thermador, Weiser door locks, Artistic Brass hardware and Waste King dishwashers.

[16] The final race that Norris Industries was the primary sponsor for Allison & Moore was the 1979 NASCAR season opener at Riverside International Raceway.

[18] The university had initially sought public financing for the project, but turned to the philanthropic of benefactors such as the Norris family when the funding measure was defeated by voters.

[21] Since that time, the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation has made several additional contributions to the cancer center, including a $15 million gift in 2012.

[3] The foundation also made substantial gifts to the Huntington Library, KCET TV station and $1 million to help build the 450-seat Norris Theatre in Rolling Hills Estates, on the northern side of Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1983.

[18][24] In 1990 Dick Moe, then Chairman of the Management Board, formed a committee to obtain property and raise the start-up capital to build the Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion.

The new facility was to house the business offices, provide class space for the education department (including a dance studio), a scene shop, a catering kitchen and a multi purpose room for performances, rehearsals and needed to be large enough for a 300 person sit-down dinner.

The purpose of PEF was to raise money to maintain, provide and enhance vital education programs in PVPUSD when Proposition 13 severely altered the funding of public schools in California.

[26] The foundation also supports the Discovery Science Center,[27] the Shriners Hospital for Children- Los Angeles,[28] Team Prime Time at Emerson Middle School,[29] the Museum of Making Music,[30] Special Olympics Southern California School Partnership Program,[31] and the Fresh Start Clinic at Rady Children's Hospital.

[34] In sum, before his death, it was estimated by the Los Angeles Times that Norris and his family had contributed more than $70 million to charities and institutions in the Southern California area.