WAYNE NORMAN’S AWARDS

RADIO PERSONALITY TO RECEIVE AWARD
Hartford Courant Aug 27, 1994

Eastern Connecticut State University will bestow one of its highest awards Monday to local radio personality Wayne Norman of WILI-AM Radio.

Norman, who is in his 25th year of service at the Willimantic radio station, will receive the President’s Medal from David G. Carter, university president, on the university’s campus at 4 p.m. The ceremony will be in the multipurpose room of the student center on the university’s North Campus.

“Wayne Norman is one of the most popular personalities of early- morning talk shows in New England,” Carter said. “He continues to enhance the image of Eastern by interviewing faculty, staff and students on a weekly basis.”

The university said Wayne deserves the award for his commitment to the university and the community at large. Wayne has been a “Cupid,” an award given by the town to someone who enhances the town’s image, and he has been marshal of Willimantic’s annual July 4th Boom Box parade.

Past recipients of the President’s Award include several former Eastern Connecticut State University presidents, Lucy B. Crosbie of the Chronicle and Herbert C. Rice, former chairman of the board of the Nutmeg Broadcasting Co.

He was “Romantic Willimantic’s” first “Cupid” in 1982–recognition for a person who promotes the positive image of Windham/Willimantic.  He was the Irish Club of Willimantic’s first “Honorary Leprechaun.”   He is the Grand Marshal of the WILI Boom Box Parade every year.  And in 2004, Connecticut Lt. Governor Jodi Rell honored Wayne as a “Connecticut Treasure.” The award said:

Wayne Norman is a familiar voice on radio, having hosted the morning program on WILI-AM for more than 30 years, the longest continuous running daily show in New England. Wayne is known around Willimantic as “Mr. Cupid” winning the title in recognition for his contributions in promoting a positive image of Windham/Willimantic. He is also well-known as the perennial Grand Marshal of the 4th of July Boom Box Parade in Willimantic. Fans of the University of Connecticut Huskies know Wayne as “the voice of the Huskies,” as he has been calling the play-by-play for UConn basketball games for 25 years.

Wayne was honored as the first “Cupid” in Romantic Willimantic in 1982.  To read the story, click here.