Among both customers and fellow team members at Goodwill North Central Wisconsin’s Outlet store, Norman “Norm” Parrotte is best known for two cannot-miss qualities. He stands out for the bold colors in his mohawk and goatee that change regularly, and he is also well-known for his big heart. From his dedication as a Navy veteran to his impact at Goodwill NCW, Norm’s journey reflects resilience, kindness and a spirit of service that inspires everyone around him.

Norm is a Navy Veteran. He grew up in Massena, New York. In high school, he excelled at sports, including baseball as a left-handed pitcher, and was scouted by the major leagues. Norm enlisted when he was 17 years old, the day after his graduation from high school. His father’s service in the Battle of the Bulge inspired him to join. He served for four years, from June 29, 1978, to June 29, 1982. Then, he was an active reserve for two years.

Norm studied basic electricity and electronics during his Navy training. After returning home for a week leave, he got orders to go to Great Lakes Illinois U.S. Naval Gunnery A School to become a Gunner’s Mate, where he learned to work in the ship’s armory to clean and test fire weapons. Norm spent most of his service stationed on “The Inde” Independence-class aircraft carrier, where he maintained small-arms weapons and moved artillery with a forklift.

During Norm’s service, the carrier was six miles off the coast of Iraq at “Gonzo-Station.” Gonzo Station was a U.S. Navy acronym for “Gulf of Oman Naval Zone of Operations” used to designate an area of carrier-based naval operations by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in the Indian Ocean during the 1979-1981 Iranian Hostage Crisis and the “Tanker War” between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“There were some hair-raising things there,” Norm said. “You’d get called to general quarters, you know, they’d put you in battle station. Most of the time I was wondering what was going on—were we going to have to go fight? Because Gunner’s Mates go after the Marines, if something happens to them.” The Inde was at Gonzo-Station to receive the hostages. The hostages were supposed to board The Inde, then be flown back to the U.S. Plans changed last-minute, and they did not end up boarding the ship.

While on leave from the Navy for a few days, Norm was in a devastating car accident that left him with many scars and broken bones including ribs, both collarbones and four places in his neck. In the first critical moments after the accident, Norm was told that he died and was resuscitated back to life twice. During his recovery, he met his future wife, Ann, at a gathering and began a bond with her six-month old daughter, Aimee, which would eventually turn into a strong father-daughter relationship. Despite his extensive injuries, he recovered and returned to the ship.

When he ended his service, he was a Gunner’s Mate Petty Officer 3rd Class (GMG3). He has several medals to honor his service, like the “Sea Service Deployment Ribbon” and “Navy Expeditionary Medal.” After serving, Norm headed back to his parent’s home in Upstate New York and worked a variety of jobs as a truck driver, bouncer at a bar and security guard for several years. He struggled to find steady, good-paying work, and in 2002 decided to take a Greyhound bus to Appleton, Wisconsin to join his brother who had found work. Norm moved with a golf bag full of clothes and a few personal items in a carry-on. He initially lived with his brother, then rented the house across the street. Ann and Aimee followed. He was all set to work a roofing and siding job alongside his brother, but at the last minute was hired to work in the warehouse and drive forklift at a local family-run company.

Norm worked about 10 years in the warehouse, until one day he lost a bet with his grandchildren. While at the park with his grandchildren, Norm promised that if he could not successfully complete a move called a “drop-in” on skateboard, he would cut his hair into a mohawk style and dye it red.

When Norm showed up to work with a red mohawk, his employers were not pleased and insisted that he change it. “They were on my case big-time,” Norm said. Norm was determined not to go back on his promise to his grandchildren and put in his two-week notice. He started to search for other employment and remembered that Goodwill NCW’s Outlet store was hiring. Norm had his doubts they would consider his application, but he got called back to interview and in July 2013, Norm was hired as a Production Specialist.

Over the next 11 years, Norm took on many duties as a Production Specialist including running the new tables of product to the sales floor, operating machinery, sorting metals for recycling and driving a forklift. Norm feels the work environment at Goodwill NCW is a great fit. “I just like everything about it and everybody I work with. Everything just fits.” Now that his hair is not an issue at work, Norm has kept his mohawk and changes the color frequently, sometimes to honor a special cause, like pink, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Most everything that I am right now is because of here,” Norm said. “My attitude, my work habits. I’m liked here and I like everyone here, like family. I have no intention of leaving until I have to retire.”

Norm’s leaders describe him as an excellent team member. He is reliable, focused on safety and dedicated to his work. He is a leader among his fellow team members, encouraging them to show up to work and focus on work tasks. He shares his lunch and gives rides to others on the team whenever he sees a need, even on his days off. Norm describes himself as a “friendly guy.” He has been friends with many of the regular customers at Goodwill NCW’s Outlet store for more than 10 years because he goes out of his way to get to know them, and they love seeing Norm’s latest hair color. “Norm likes to check in with everybody to see how they’re doing. That’s just who Norm is. He cares about everybody, and he wants to help everybody,” Norm’s leaders said. “We need more people like Norm.” He especially bonds with anyone who is a Veteran too and makes sure to shake their hand and thank them for their service.

Norm and Ann have been married 34 years. For several years, Ann has been struggling with serious health issues. Norm says they go to the emergency room often to address concerns, but her health is not improving. Norm is her main caregiver and needs to check in with her when he is at work. Winters are even more challenging because his home does not have a working furnace. Instead, he uses propane heaters to heat a few rooms as best he can. Norm also struggles with reliable transportation. At times, if Norm’s car has broken down, he rides his bike to work. He rarely misses a shift for any reason.

Norm has received support from his store leaders and services from the local Employment Placement Specialist, a member of Goodwill NCW’s mission team who guides people to resources and offers training and support to help with life challenges that can create issues at work. They have been walking alongside Norm to find special equipment for at-home care for Ann and to access benefits from Veteran’s Affairs (VA).

Before seeking help from Goodwill NCW, Norm had never accessed VA benefits. “I never even thought about it, and I don’t know how any of it works,” Norm said. He was missing paperwork to start the process. Now, with help from the Employment Placement Specialist, he has completed his application for VA housing and is on a waiting list. “Goodwill has been helping me with getting a VA apartment, so we can get into a house with heat,” Norm said. “The wife and I owe Goodwill a complete and total debt for everything they’ve done for us,” Norm said. He said a new home would give him peace of mind.

Norm is an outspoken Goodwill NCW advocate, even referring family members to apply to join the team. Aimee is currently working on the Goodwill NCW Ecommerce team and Norm’s grandson is working at Goodwill NCW’s Outlet store with him. When Norm was asked what Goodwill NCW has meant to him, without hesitation, he answered, “everything.”