The annual “Cuffs N Trucks” golf tournament, hosted at the Capitol City Golf Course on Friday, Aug. 23, honored the life of former Rainier High School student Justin Norton and raised nearly $22,000 to donate towards scholarship opportunities for RHS and Yelm High School students.
Norton, an RHS class of 2003 graduate, deployed to Iraq in November of 2005 and was killed in action by an improvised explosive device (IED) while patrolling in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 24, 2006. His military awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon and more.
Thirty-nine teams, or 156 participants, participated in the annual golf tournament. There were 24 total sponsors with two representatives at each hole, creating a packed environment of over 200 people for the tournament.
“Capital City said it was one of the largest tournaments they’ve ever had,” event organizer Bill DeVore said. “I have a lot of respect for Justin and what he did. I have a lot of respect for the family on both sides, and I want to make sure his memory is kept going and that he’s remembered as a good person that wanted to give back to his community.”
Tickets for the annual memorial fundraiser were a hot commodity in 2024, as the tournament sold out in June. This year’s fundraiser total was also the most money the tournament has raised in honor of Norton.
“It will go to the Justin Norton Memorial Fund, and all that money goes towards scholarships for Rainier High School and Yelm High School students,” DeVore said. “I was excited. It definitely shows the support that tournament has and how it’s growing. It just means next year, I have to do more. When we get this out in January for the upcoming date, make sure you sign up early because it will fill up fast.”
DeVore, a longtime community advocate and owner of Yelm’s 507 Taproom, knew Norton while he was a high schooler at Rainier. He worked with Norton’s dad and stepdad and knew Norton’s family. DeVore said, prior to his death, Norton told his family he would like to have a scholarship in his name at Rainier High School if he did not return from combat. The fundraiser was originally a basketball game but it transitioned to golf.
“This tournament means a lot because there’s people there that were deployed with him, in Iraq with him, and they come to the tournament each year,” DeVore said. “It’s very emotional for them that they want to participate. We have a lot of people that didn’t know him but have learned more about him as time has gone on, and they come out every year.”
The tournament will return to Capitol City Golf Course in 2025, and DeVore expects details for the event to be announced in January. He thanked Capitol City for accommodating the tournament, adding the event will always occur at that golf course.
“They’re always accommodating of what we want to do, and they appreciate us being there. Of course, you know there’s always hiccups every year, but that is something you work through,” DeVore said. “They enjoy having that tournament there, knowing that it was a military family and law enforcement family. It is very much a civil services event.”
