Norman Alois Ulrich
December 15, 1920 – January 14, 2016
Norman Alois Ulrich of La Grange Park, IL died on January 14, 2016. He and his wife Ella May (Newkirk) celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Nov. 3, 2015 and he is also survived by their three children, Pamella May (Bruce Christensen), Penelope Maureen (Phillip Stickney), and Kurt Norman (Nancy Pantke Ulrich); 10 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He will be buried in Seymour, IN, where he had WWII flight training at Freeman Air Force Base. He met Ella May at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour IN, where his service and interment will take place on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.
Ulrich was born in Berwyn, IL December 15, 1920 and grew up in Western Springs, IL and was second of 6 children. He attended St. John’s Lutheran School and Church in La Grange. Family and Christian education were always important parts of his life.
While a student at Lyons Township High School he was given his own art studio and later was awarded a national scholarship by the Walt Disney Company to their Chicago-based art school. He took flying lessons in Lockport, IL; received his pilot’s license and enlisted in the Army Air Corps; and flew over Germany in the 95th Bombardment Group. Shot down on May 29, 1944, he was sent to Stalag Luft III.
In 1945, the coldest winter on record, those in Stalag Luft III endured forced-marches ending in Mooseburg, Germany. On April 29, 1945, Ulrich was liberated with other prisoners by General George S. Patton. Ulrich was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, awarded the Purple Heart Medal, and later received the Prisoner of War Medal.
Following the war, Ulrich was hired as an advertising artist by Chicago-based R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and the category of ‘pizza’ was added to the Yellow Pages at his suggestion. After working as Designer and Creative Director with another Chicago advertising firm, Ulrich left to begin his own company in 1952. Norm Ulrich Studios: Advertising Art and Photography in Oak Park, IL advertised Armour and Company, Swift and Company, Dial Soap, Mars Candy, Apian Way Pizza and St. Charles Kitchens, among others.
In 1962, Ulrich was elected president of The Art Directors Club of Chicago where he served two terms. In 1965, he became president of the National Society of Art Directors and chairman of the NSAD’s International Relations Committee, a membership organization of the International Organization of Graphic Arts Councils (ICOGRADA). During this term, Ulrich represented the United States at an international convention in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, when judges voted for the universal symbols which are now used to identify street crossings, school zones, bathrooms, etc. throughout the world.
From 1970-80, Ulrich designed Christmas seals and church banners for Wheat Ridge Ministries (St. Louis, MO), an evangelical Lutheran organization. In 1979, Ulrich was hired by TRW INC., an American corporation involved with aerospace and automotive development.
In 2007, Ulrich was presented with a Life Time Achievement Award by Air Force JROTC Chapter IL-961 and in 2009, he was voted into the Lyons Township High School Hall of Fame for his achievements.
Norman A. Ulrich worked hard, enjoyed his family, used his gifts to help others, and gave God the glory for his talents. Memorial donations may be given to St. John’s Lutheran School, La Grange, IL.