Norwood Sothoron

Norwood Spencer Sothoron (September 9, 1911 – February 4, 2005) was an American soldier and athlete. He attended the University of Maryland, where he earned All-American honors twice in lacrosse and an honorable mention in football. Sothoron was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1972.

Norwood Sothoron

Sothoron on the Maryland football team in 1934
Born:	September 9, 1911 Charlotte Hall, Maryland
Died:	Charlotte Hall, Maryland February 4, 2005 (aged 93)
Career information
Position(s)	Quarterback, fullback (football) Defenseman (lacrosse) Guard-forward (basketball) Infielder (baseball)
Height	5 ft 10.5 in (179 cm)
Weight	158 lb (72 kg)
College	Maryland
High school	Charlotte Hall Military Academy
Career highlights and awards
Football 1934 first-team All-Southern Conference 1934 honorable mention All-American Lacrosse 1933 first-team All-American 1934 first-team All-American National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee
Military career
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1941–1946 (active duty)
Rank	Colonel

Early life and college

He was born on September 9, 1911 in Charlotte Hall, Maryland to parents Richard Horatio and Lillian Harrison Sothoron. Norwood Sothoron attended the Charlotte Hall Military Academy.[1]

In 1931, he enrolled at the University of Maryland. While there, he earned varsity letters as a member of the baseball, basketball, football, and lacrosse teams. His senior year in 1934, he received the Senior Award as the most outstanding athlete in the class.[2]

As a football player, in 1934, Sothoron was also named an honorable mention All-American and All-Southern Conference back.[3][4] He also was named to every All-State and All-District of Columbia team published.[5] In lacrosse, he was named a first-team All-American defenseman in both 1934 and 1935.[2][6][7]

He was elected the senior class president, junior class vice president, and president of Kappa Alpha. Sothoron was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Scabbard and Blade. Upon graduation in 1935, he received a commission as an officer in the United States Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).[2]

Military and civilian career

Sothoron spent five years on active duty, from 1941 to 1946. During the Second World War, he served in the 110th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group in the South Pacific Theater.[1] After the war, he was assigned to a reserve officers school at Fort Myer, Virginia. His positions there included plans and training officer (S3), assistant commandant, and commandant. In 1964, he retired from the Army Reserve having attained the rank of colonel.[2]

During that time, from 1947 to 1969, he also held the civilian position as the commandant of the Charlotte Hall Military Academy.[1][2] In the early 1970s, he worked as a manager for Franklin Wholesale, Inc. in Waldorf, Maryland.[2] From 1974 to 1993, he served on the board of directors of the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO).[1]

Later life

He married Jane Spaulding Bennett Sothoron, with whom he had four children. Their eldest son, Norwood, Jr., likewise became an Army officer and was awarded the Silver Star in Viet Nam. Their second son, John, also played lacrosse at Towson University. Norwood and Jane Sothoron eventually retired to Lexington Park, Maryland.[2] He was a member of the Lions Club for over 40 years and served as president and deputy district governor.[1]

In 1972, Sothoron was elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.[8] In 1983, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.[9] Sothoron died in 2005 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.[10]

References

1. Obituary: Norwood Spencer Sothoron, St. Mary's Today, February 4, 2005, retrieved February 4, 2009.
2. Hall of Fame Bios: Sothoron, Norwood, US Lacrosse, retrieved February 4, 2009.
3. All-Time Honors (PDF), 2001 Maryland Terrapins Football Media Guide, CBS Sports, retrieved 8 December 2008.
4. SoCon Records (PDF), 2007 Southern Conference Football Media Guide, Southern Conference, p. 141–147, retrieved 6 October 2008
5. Terrapin, University of Maryland Yearbook, Class of 1935, p. 136.
6. 1934 Men's All-Americans, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, retrieved February 4, 2009.
7. 1933 Men's All-Americans, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, retrieved February 4, 2009.
8. Norwood Sothoron Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine, National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, US Lacrosse, retrieved February 4, 2009.
9. Appendix H: University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame, 1982-1998 Archived 2008-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, The M Club, retrieved February 4, 2009.
10. February 2005 News Stories Archived 2008-01-05 at the Wayback Machine, St. Mary's Today, February 2005, retrieved February 4, 2009.