Skip to main content

The story of a wrong number and a female ‘icon’ in college sports

Part of Josh Dodd’s last text message recently to Norma Carr read, “Always nice to validate the notion of a life well lived.”

The two never met. Carr had never heard of Dodd. And then she dialed a wrong number.

Carr was trying to reach a friend of hers in Arkansas via text messaging while she watched her Salt Lake Community College women’s basketball team during the March national tournament in Kansas. Instead, she found Dodd, who didn’t recognize the number.

Once Carr identified herself to a befuddled Dodd, the questions started coming.

“Not sure I am the intended recipient,” Dodd wrote back to Carr. “But not to pry (sic), would you be the Norma Carr of BYU fame, multiple-sport athlete, and first female athletic director in the entire state of Utah? I don’t mean to waste your time, but I wrote several papers in high school and college on the subject.”

Carr had more questions than Dodd at that point.

“Yes, I am that Norma,” she wrote. “So, why would you be writing papers about me? And may I ask who you are? How do you know about me?”

It turns out Dodd found out about Carr when asked to write a paper in high school about women in mass media, choosing sports and, ultimately, Carr for his focus.

“I turned in a variation of that paper all 4 years of high school and adapted it for 8 years and multiple degree programs in college,” Dodd replied to Carr. “And then when (I) was 27 you accidentally text me. I’d say that is irony at its finest.”

Coincidence? Definitely. Dodd absolutely points out a bit of irony in his next message to Carr.

“The fact that you direct a program that includes the men’s athletics is, in my opinion, still completely alien to American audiences,” Dodd wrote. “Most still laugh at the appeal of women in leadership positions, especially in the male-dominated hierarchies likes sports media, but you have served as a role model, icon, and a bastion for the argument that women can be equal/superior to men while holding a charge that is frankly well under represented in collegiate sports.”

Carr, currently director of athletics for SLCC, recently announced she is retiring after 25 years at the College. To many, she is and will always be an icon in Utah sports.


And because of a wrong number, she validated one man’s notion of a life well lived.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the  Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the  Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education  for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning.  Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)  allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024.   “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.”   As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an  11-member committee  in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...
Post a Comment
Read more