Archives West Finding Aid

Norman "Norm" DeValois Dicks was the U.S. Representative for Washington’s 6th congressional district from 1977 to 2013. Born on December 16, 1940 in Bremerton, Washington, Dicks graduated from West Bremerton High School in 1959 before earning his BA from the University of Washington in 1963. Following his graduation from the University of Washington School of Law in 1968, Dicks worked as the legislative and administrative assistant to United States Senator Warren G. Magnuson for eight years. In November 1976, Dicks, a Democrat, was first elected to Congress after winning the election with 74% of the vote. During his time in office, Dicks worked on many environmental issues, including the restoration of the waters in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal, the protection of the endangered spotted owl population, and the removal of two dams on the Elwha River. He also worked to secure a billion-dollar Boeing Air Force refueling tanker contract. Dicks announced in March 2012 that he would not run for re-election, and retired from public office at the end of that year.