Elizabethtown Catholic Class of 1957
For Norbert Anthony Thompson, E-Town Catholic was more than a school, it was the foundation for a life shaped by faith, hard work, and curiosity. A member of the Class of 1957, Norbert went on to become the first in his family to attend and graduate from college, earning his degree from Western Kentucky University in 1964.
Some of his most meaningful memories are the simplest ones, like the care Mrs. Georgie Walker put into every lunch she served. He also remembers his senior trip to Washington, D.C. and New York as a turning point, offering a first glimpse of the world beyond his hometown of Cecilia, Kentucky.
Norbert’s path took him from teaching high school math to working for L&N Railroad, where he became one of the early computer programmers, writing code in machine language when computers filled entire rooms. It was a career built on a willingness to learn and adapt, something he credits to his Catholic education.
But if you ask Norbert what matters most, he won’t mention his career. He’ll tell you about his wife of 64 years, their five children, and the faith that has guided them through it all. His legacy of faith continues to come full circle. Now, Norbert has two great-grandchildren attending SJS – Campbree Spilman (7th grade) and Brix Spilman (PreK-3).
His advice to current SJS students is simple and sincere: stay grounded in your faith, treat others with kindness, and trust that even in difficult moments, prayer will carry you through.