Saturday, December 27, 2014
REFLECTIONS & PROJECTIONS the BEST and Worst of two thousand FOURTEEN
Person of the Year
BOB NORRIS
Story of the Year
By TESS GRUBER NELSON Managing Editor
A
fter being named a 2014 Iowan of the Day at the Iowa State Fair and being honored as the 2014 Shenfest Grand Marshal, it’s only fitting that Bob Norris be The Valley News’ 2014 Person of the Year. After all, it was this past year that Bob retired from serving as Shenandoah City Attorney after 45 dedicated years. Although it may be a surprise to Bob he was selected for this honor, it certainly wasn’t to anyone else in our community. “Bob has been a tremendous asset to Shenandoah. His calm, level-headed approach to even the toughest debates has been the backbone of this community for years,” commented Century Bank President, Greg Ritchey. “His dedication, ethics, and consistent presence in city and business affairs will be missed.” “When I would call Bob for legal help on a library issue, he showed amazing patience--carefully explaining the legal ramifications. His calm, even temper—priceless,” said Shenandoah Public Library Director, Jan Frankde Ois. Despite Bob and his wife, Edi, being avid support of Shenandoah, neither of them are natives. The couple actually moved here in 1969 when Bob began practicing law. After graduating from college, the couple first lived in Bloomington, Ill, where Bob worked for State Farm Insurance for five years. The duo then returned to Iowa, where Bob attended Drake University Law School in Des Moines. When he graduated, the couple made their way to Shenandoah. “We love it here; we moved here by choice and we’ve stayed here by choice, and we will continue to do that,” Norris said in a June 2014 interview, “I just think back over the last 45 years and all of the progress that Shenandoah’s made as a community, the positive things that have happened to improve our town, and just being a part of that has been rewarding.” Bob retired as Shenandoah City Attorney on June 30, 2014, however he is still practicing law. On top of that, he is a very active volunteer within the community with the United Methodist Church, Shenandoah Elementary School, M.A.Y. Mentoring, as a member of Shenandoah’s Sister City committee, a former longtime Boy Scout leader, and Shenandoah Rotary member. “How to comment on 44 years as a friend, legal council, traveling partner, Boy Scout Leader, Church leader, fellow hiker, backpacker, canoe companion, City Attorney, Sanctuary coffee group member, and other memories too numerous to count can’t begin to list his impact on our lives. I thought for a long time that he might not ever retire because of his love for his vocation,” commented Shenandoah City Council member Bob Burchett. “He deserves every honor he has received, and they are many! I’m very proud to call him a friend.” Norris was honored in August 2014 at the Iowa State Fair as an Iowan of the Day, a prestigious award saluting the most giving and outstanding people in the state. On his nomination form it read that Bob is known for making a difference, such as traveling to Russia for mission work in orphanages. Giving back is something he and Edi have in common, which is a reason behind their successful marriage of more than 50 years. “They are always a joy to work with on all the volunteer organizations they are involved with, whether it was Greater Shenandoah Foundation, M.A.Y. Mentoring, Rotary or other volunteer positions,” said Shelly Smith, Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association Marketing Director, of the couple. Bob and Edi have one son, Mike Norris, and two grandchildren, Ian and Sydney. “I first met Bob in the late 60’s when I joined Boy Scout Troop 218. He was one of the the Scout leaders that were there to guide myself and the rest of the boys in Troop 218. I don’t know what year Bob came to Shenandoah, but I’m suspecting he hadn’t been here for long, as he was quite young, and energetic,” commented Shenandoah resident John Greenleaf. “His love for the community, and in helping to shape the minds of young boys to grow-up to be the next generation of leaders in Shenandoah, or whereever they may land after graduation, is in itself a mighty see NORRIS, Page 3
Brian Davis
Brian Davis charged with 2009 murder By ANDREW NELSON OWH News Service
A distraught Brian Davis called 911 about 9:35 a.m. on July 18, 2009. He told the dispatcher that his girlfriend, Holly Durben, had shot herself. Deputies found Durben dead in the upstairs bedroom of the rural Shenandoah home she shared with Davis. She was lying on her back, her left hand on a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun, with a shotgun wound to her head. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, more than five years later, authorities arrested Davis and charged him with first-degree murder in Durben’s death. Bond was set at $1 million cash, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. On the day of Davis’ arrest, Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope said the investigation was reopened in late 2013 after former Fremont County Attorney James Burger took office. At the time, the new prosecutor’s perspective made the difference. “Our office brought it to him. We had several, several, meetings on it,” Aistrope said. “All the evidence was there. He just looked at it with a new eye.” The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation also cited new evidence in the case, but would not say what it was, saying the investigation into Durben’s death was still ongoing. Davis has a history of criminal charges, including a 1999 conviction for assault and causing serious injury. In 2012, three years after Durben’s death, he was convicted of violating a protection order. In early October a charge of domestic abuse assault with intent to inflict serious injury was dismissed. Durben’s death followed an incident the year before in which she told deputies Davis had tried to strangle her and had put a loaded handgun to her head. Charles Richardson, 34, her brother in-law, said Thursday, Oct. 30 that family members had been trying to persuade Durben to leave Davis. see DAVIS, Page 3