Will Norton loved making videos and had planned to attend film school in California, but as he was driving home from high school graduation with his dad, his life was tragically cut short.
“The next thing I remember is hail hitting me in the face, and I reached over to grab Will, and he was gone. He wasn't in his seat,” said Will’s father, Mark Norton.
The 2011 Joplin tornado injured more than 1,000 and killed 161 people, including Will.
He was sucked through the sunroof of his SUV. His body was found in a pond nearby.
“He had a lot going for him. His life was cut short, but we're just trying to find something positive,” said The Will Wall Creator Kendall Gammon.
Years ago, Gammon lived next door to the Norton family.
Shortly after Will’s death, Gammon learned Will had his Chiefs jersey number painted on his bedroom wall and kept a game ball Gammon gave to him when he was a child.
Combining that with Will’s love for social media, Gammon came up with The Will Wall.
Anyone can join.
All you have to do is create a username and password, then you upload a video thanking someone in your life who has had a positive impact.
"To me, instead of typing a note, or just touching a picture or a picture of a heart, why not tell someone in video so they can really see it, see the emotion in your face,” Gammon explained.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
