Photo submitted to the Times Observer Norm Chamberlain is pictured with a copy of the Founding Martyr: The Life and Death of Dr. Joseph Warren, the American Revolution’s Lost Hero.

The Warren County Historical Society announces Norm Chamberlain as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year for 2025.

Chamberlain was born and raised in Warren County, Pennsylvania. A 1973 Warren Area High School graduate, he served 19 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1994. Chamberlain earned an associate degree in electronic systems technology and worked at Rexnord, Loranger’s, Osram Sylvania, Truck-Lite, and Tidioute Oil Co, retiring in 2019.

Married to Pamela Leonard for 25 years until her death, and the last 21 years Chamberlain has been married to Georgeann Dobson Lawson. The two enjoy traveling the country and visiting family. Father and grandfather of three children, and eight grandchildren, when Chamberlain has free time he spends it volunteering. He is a driver for the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), a greeter at Warren General Hospital, and an active volunteer at the Warren County Historical Society.

“Norm first became part of the organization in 2022 when he, his wife Georgeann, and cousin Sue won the Warren County Trail of History Challenge,” said Michelle Gray, Warren County Historical Society managing director. “He was definitely ignited by a curiosity in local history and expressed an interest in becoming more involved. And, he did.”

Elected to the board of directors in 2023, Chamberlain got started right away by gathering donations for the Warren’s Founders’ Day raffle fundraiser, a board-driven fundraiser that supports the organization’s programs. Next, he began soliciting local Veterans to share their stories for the historical society’s YouTube Veterans’ History Series. To date, there are a dozen interviews posted online. Most recently, he and Jen Fromknecht, Vice President of the organization’s board of directors, have been visiting local businesses and sharing information about the Warren County Historical Society, stimulating their interest in local history.

“Norm is always asking questions and working to make things more efficient within the organization,” Gray said.

For more information, please visit www.warrenhistory.org.