In honor of International Women’s Day, here are a few things you should know about Chiefs matriarch Norma Hunt, mother to Clark Hunt and wife of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt.
First lady of football
Norma is the only woman to have attended each of the 53 Super Bowl’s. She attended 40 of those games with Lamar, and has continued the tradition of going to the games since his passing. Her favorite part of attending is an opportunity to watch the best athletes in the world compete.
Speaking of Super Bowls…
The matriarch Hunt played a huge part in how the Super Bowl got its name. She bought super ball bouncy balls from a toy store for the Hunt children, and the name of the toy actually prompted Lamar to coin the term “Super Bowl” in reference to the AFL-NFL championship game.
Mother of US Soccer
Perhaps equal to Norma’s love of football is her love for soccer. She attended her first World Cup in 1966, and played a huge role in Lamar’s investment in the now defunct North American Soccer League. She passed on that love of soccer to both Clark and Daniel Hunt, who both played the game growing up. When the MLS formed in 1996, Clark took up his fathers mantle and purchased the Columbus Crew and the Kansas City Wiz. Now the Hunt’s own FC Dallas and are still a strong voice in the MLS.
Technically still a team owner
While Clark Hunt is the CEO & Chairman of the team, each of the four Hunt siblings owned about 24.5 percent of the team as of 2015. Norma is also a minority owner with the remaining percentage belonging to her.
A vintner too
In the year 2000, Norma and Lamar Hunt purchased a ranch that would eventually become Bidwell Creek Estate and Vineyard in Knights Valley. There they craft wine called Perfect Season Cabernet Sauvignon. Norma’s love of viniculture helped this project come to life.
AFC championship game
Everyone made a big deal about Clark Hunt getting a chance to hoist the trophy named after his father ahead of the AFC championship game. Had the Chiefs won the AFC championship game they had different plans in mind. Norma would be the one presented with the trophy named after her late husband Lamar, and she’d get the first chance to hoist it. Unfortunately the Chiefs came up short in that game. So she’ll have to wait at least another year for that opportunity.
