REFERENCE TITLE: Norman McClelland; death resolution

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCR 1009

Introduced by Senators Brophy McGee: Allen S, Barto, Borrelli, Bowie, Bradley, Burges, Cajero Bedford, Contreras, Dalessandro, Fann, Farley, Farnsworth D, Gray, Griffin, Hobbs, Kavanagh, Kerr, Mendez, Meza, Miranda, Otondo, Peshlakai, Petersen, Pratt, Quezada, Smith, Worsley, Yarbrough, Yee; Representative Syms

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

on the death of Norman P. McClelland.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Norman P. McClelland passed away on July 11, 2017 at the age of ninety.

A lifelong Arizonan, Norman was born in Tucson on June 21, 1927 to Irish immigrants.  After graduating from Tucson High School, he received a dual degree in agriculture and business administration from the University of Arizona.

Norman was one of the driving forces behind the success of Shamrock Foods Company, the parent company of Shamrock Farms and Shamrock Foods.  Norman's father founded the business in 1922 with a Model T truck and twenty cows.  After 95 years in business, Shamrock is now one of the top privately held companies in America and one of the top 100 employers in America.  Norman served as chief executive officer of the company for 45 years and continued to lead the company as chairman of the board until his passing.

Norman was an iconic leader and leaves behind a tremendous legacy of business leadership and devotion to public service.  He personified Shamrock's longstanding commitment "to treat associates like family and customers and suppliers like friends."  Norman believed that it was just as much the company's duty to give back to the community as it was to provide superior products.  As a result of his leadership, today Shamrock supports more than 80 nonprofit groups, many of which are education‑focused, and donates more than 450,000 pounds of food annually to local food banks.

Despite the demands of his work, Norman gave selflessly of his time, energy and abilities to many charitable, business and community organizations, including St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix Mountain Preserve, the Boy Scouts of America, the Boys and Girls Club and Interfaith Ministries.  As a respected member of the business community, he served as a leader with many organizations, including the Arizona State Fair, the 100 Club of Arizona, the Phoenix Mountain Preserve Commission, the Save Our Mountains Foundation, the University of Arizona Eller School of Management, the Rockford Institute, the Howard Center, the Goldwater Institute, the Joe Foss Institute, Duet and the Irish Cultural Center.  He was also actively involved with the Young Presidents' Organization.

Norman's Irish heritage was a source of tremendous pride for him, and he dedicated much of his time to ensuring that Irish culture continued to thrive in Arizona.  He kept in close contact with his relatives in Ireland and frequently traveled there to visit friends and family.  He was actively involved in the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix and led the charge to create the center's 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art library.  In 2016, he received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad from the Irish President in recognition of his commitment to promoting Irish culture and history.

Norman placed a high value on education and remained an active supporter of his alma mater, the University of Arizona, throughout his lifetime.  Norman and his sister, Frances H. McClelland, were both loyal alumni, and in 2008, Norman worked with their close friend, John Norton, to build McClelland Park to house the John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences.  He was lifelong friends with Karl Eller, and, in 1992, the new Eller College of Management facility was dedicated and named McClelland Hall in their honor.

Humble, honest and kind, Norman had a true passion for people.  At every event he attended, Norman would walk around and personally shake everyone's hand.  He had a keen sense of humor and was known for always being ready with an Irish joke.

Norman's life was a true reflection of his commitment to God and his active participation in the Christian community.  He was a dedicated Presbyterian and a member of the Valley Presbyterian Church where he served on numerous committees, often with his close "Band of Brothers" who met every week.

Dedicated to his family, Norman will be deeply missed by his wife, Barbara A. McClelland, son, Kent McClelland and his wife Celia, daughter, Kathe McClelland, stepdaughter, Heather Helser, grandchildren, Chandra McClelland, Kerani McClelland, Devon McClelland, Joshua Alvarez, Joy Huneycutt and her husband David, Harlan Helser and Jaeyln Helser, great grandchildren, Malachi Huneycutt and Joshua Lincoln Huneycutt, and wife from a previous marriage, Barbara S. McClelland.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature sincerely regret the passing of Norman P. McClelland and extend their sympathies and condolences to his family and many friends.