Robert Norris, a rancher whose rugged appearance made him famous as the Marlboro Man in cigarette advertisements, was born on April 10, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois; Norris grew up in St. Charles and attended Elgin Academy. He later played football at the University of Kentucky under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant before pursuing a career in ranching.
In 1950, Norris entered the horse and cattle business, acquiring the T-Cross brand—the first registered brand in Colorado. He expanded his ranching operations by purchasing 20,000 acres south of Colorado Springs, eventually growing the T-Cross Ranch to 63,000 acres, with over 150 horses and 1,000 cattle. He later established a second ranch in Arizona. Under Norris’ leadership, T-Cross Ranches became known for excellence in Quarter Horse and cattle operations.
Despite becoming the iconic face of Marlboro advertisements, Norris never smoked. His unexpected career in advertising began when executives saw him in a photograph with his close friend, actor John Wayne, and approached him to star in Marlboro commercials.
His contributions to the industry left a lasting legacy, with T-Cross Ranches earning a distinguished reputation over the course of 69 years. He passed away at the age of 90 on November 3, 2019, in Colorado Springs.
