August 1, 2013 – Morton, IL – Today, the Morton Chamber of Commerce announced that the 47th Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade Marshal will be Norm Durflinger. The announcement was made by Parade Chairman Linc Hobson during the Rotary Club of Morton’s weekly meeting at the Best Western Ashland House.

Norm Durflinger began making an impact on the community of Morton in 1979 as Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent of the Morton Public Schools. In 2002 Norm retired from the school district and several years later was elected as Morton’s Mayor. During his eight years as Morton’s Mayor, Durflinger led the community through the completion of a new comprehensive plan and was instrumental in the establishment of the Morton Economic Development Council, the Morton Business District, a Sister City in China, a downtown plan and strategy for the Village, and a new Morton Fire Station.
In addition to spurring strategies to strengthen the economy of Morton, Durflinger was a strong steward of Village resources. During Norm’s term, the Village’s savings grew from $4 Million to $7 Million. Durflinger also worked with the Trustees to reduce spending by over $2 Million in the Village budget.

Durflinger has participated and held leadership positions in the Morton Rotary Club, We Care Foundation, Morton Community Foundation, Peoria Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Morton Economic Development Council, Morton Chamber of Commerce, Village of Morton Board of Trustees, and his local church council and building committee.
Durflinger’s awards during his professional and civic participation have been the Morton Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award, the Morton Rotary Club Distinguished Service Award, the Distinguished Service Award for the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, Distinguished Service Award for the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Distinguish Service Award for the Department of Educational Administration and Foundation at Illinois State University.

Durflinger is married to his wife of forty-five years, Cathy, and has three married children and four grandchildren all living in the Village of Morton. He and his family will lead the Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade on Saturday, September 14th as this year’s Parade Marshal.