Norb 3 NORBERT (NORB) THURMER

“President’s Choice Award”

In 1954, Norb Thurmer opened Thurmer’s Bar in South St. Louis, which today is widely regarded as the first true sports bar in St. Louis. As owner of Thurmer’s Bar he was a major sponsor and supporter of amateur athletics in St. Louis. His passion was men’s fast-pitch softball and WAS fast-pitch softball in St. Louis for over 50 years.

Norbert Julius Thurmer, affectionately known as Softie or T-Bird, was part owner and third base coach of the St. Louis Browns Men’s Professional Fastpitch Softball team. In 1973, the Browns, who averaged playing before some 5,000 fans a night, won the World Professional Fast-pitch Championship, beating the Montreal Royals in the finals.

His Thurmer’s Bar teams were powerhouses in the 1950’s, ’60’s, ’70’s and ’80’s and represented St. Louis in National and World Softball Tournaments. Thurmer sponsored numerous teams in other sports, including men’s and women’s slow-pitch softball, baseball, soccer, basketball, bowling, rugby and touch football. His teams included future or former professional football, baseball, soccer, and basketball players.

His soccer team included both Charlie Columbo and Frank Borghi who played for the United States National Team that beat England in the 1950 World Cup. In 1958 alone, Thurmer sponsored 11 bowling teams and he is a supporter and benefactor of St. Louis University Billikens basketball. He has been described as a poor man’s Toots Shore, the legendary saloon keeper and sports celebrity from New York City.Presidents Choice Award

In the 1970’s, Thurmer’s Bar sold the second most beer in St. Louis City, only behind a little place called Busch Stadium. Former Thurmer’s Bar employees included MLB umpire Gerry Davis and NFL referee Dick Hantak.

While at a high school basketball game in the late 1970’s, he was tapped on the shoulder and asked, “Are you the real Thurmer?” The person doing the asking was none other than future Hall of Fame announcer and television host, Bob Costas. In 1983, a testimonial dinner was held in his honor and Costas was Master of Ceremonies.

Patrons at Thurmer’s over the years included Big Red players and coaches, including Jim Bakken, Irv Goode, Johnny Roland, Terry Miller and Jim Hanifan. On Monday nights, Big Red coaches would order strip steak dinners and bring them back to Busch Stadium for their coaches meetings. They let Norb know that when the beer ran out the coaches meeting was over. Former Billiken coach Rich Grawer and his assistants would regularly stop in for lunch. Back in the day you might have run into former mayor, AJ Cervantes or even college basketball announcer Billy Packer.

Thurmer has been inducted into the International Softball Hall of Fame and the St. Louis Softball Hall of Fame.