UPDATED WITH STORY: Morgan City honors gold medalist Norwood

Morgan City paid tribute to hometown Olympian Vernon Norwood on Wednesday, with political leaders and former coaches praising his two-medal performance in Paris.
And there was a video tracing his career, from reluctant track athlete at Morgan City High to two-time NCAA 400 meters champion at LSU.
Along the way, the video showed the Vernon Norwood, on the track and off, who filled the Morgan City Auditorium ballroom with well-wishers.
The video replayed NBC coverage of the 4x400 men’s relay semifinals Aug. 9 in Paris, when Norwood ran the second leg after teen phenom Quincy Wilson. The 16-year-old had set a youth record during the Olympic trials, but he lagged in the semis, running a 47-second split. Team USA’s medal hopes were in jeopardy.
But after taking the baton from Wilson, the 32-year-old Norwood ran his leg in 43.6 seconds, moving USA from seventh to fourth and keeping the team in contention for the top three qualification spots for the finals. And there, Norwood ran a 43.3 to help the Team USA squad win its third straight gold medal in the 4x400.
At the auditorium Wednesday, state Sen. Robert Allain relayed a commendation from Gov. Jeff Landry, praising Norwood’s “outstanding representation of Louisiana and the United States of America.”
Allain added his own resolution of praise. And Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna presented Norwood and his mother, Charliette Ray, with a City Council proclamation making Wednesday Vernon Norwood Day.
“Happy Tootie Day,” former Morgan City High Principal and current City Councilman Tim Hymel told the crowd.
Another councilman, the Rev. Ron Bias, reflected on the path that brought Norwood to Morgan City after his family left hurricane-battered New Orleans in 2005.
“Not only did something good come out of Katrina,” Bias said, “something great came out of Katrina.”
In a video, Morgan City High’s Mikah Wilkerson read from a student essay by Norwood. In it, the future Olympian talked about growing up in a tough New Orleans neighborhood.
“I was in a very rough place ..,” said the essay. “I was living with no conscience. …
“But I made it out.”
The list of people who influenced Norwood included LSU track coach Dennis Shaver and MCHS coaches Denver Chapman, Mark Millet, Gary Johnson and Jeremy Whittington, the basketball coach who took some credit for persuading Norwood to run track as a junior.
The list also included 6th Ward Morgan City Judge Kim Stansbury, a hint that Norwood didn’t leave all his legal scrapes behind in New Orleans.
Norwood smiled as he said, “Me and Judge Stansbury became good friends.”
Norwood’s essay pointed to another kind of redemption.
“Every time I step on the track,” Norwood wrote, “I feel like I already won.”
Norwood missed his LSU graduation nine years ago because of a track commitment. On Wednesday night, he donned a cap and gown to receive his diploma.
Norwood thanked his mother, his brothers, his girlfriend and his coaches. And he thanked God.
Norwood also won a silver medal as a member of the mixed 4x400 relay team at Paris, and brought home a gold from the men’s 4x400 and a bronze in the mixed 4x400 from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He talked Wednesday about staying shape for a third trip to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles.
And he talked about his mom.
“I told my mama I wouldn’t cry until I got home,” Norwood said. “I probably will.”