Norman Man Presented With New Class Ring

We've got great news to report about Norman Icon Calvin Steves.

Steves has been selling Norman Transcript newspapers around Norman for 40 years. When he was 11 years old, Steves suffered a traumatic brain injury, after being struck by a hit-and-run driver, while Calvin rode his bike.

Three weeks ago, Steves lost his 1981 Norman High School class ring, which is the most precious thing he's owned in his life. When word got out about it, Jostens Jewelry executives went to work making Calvin a new class ring.

On Tuesday night, Jostens executives Bob McCabe and Rick Lierman, who's a 1979 Norman High School graduate, presented Steves with his new ring at a gathering at Othello's in Norman's Campus Corner.

“We knew we had a short time to do this and so it was a wonderful thing to do, and we really enjoyed it,” McCabe said.

12/10/2014 Related Story: Well Known Norman Man Loses High School Ring

OU alum David Maddon also started a GoFundMe account for Steves after he found out what had happened to him. Maddon says more than 130 donors from places ranging from Calgary, Canada to Eastern Europe--places all over the world--poured $3,550 dollars into that account.

Maddon says since Jostens took care of the ring, the donors gave him their blessings to use that money to buy Steves' some early Christmas presents, including an iPhone 6, a new computer, Bose speakers, OU Sooner and OKC Thunder gear, and something Steves can use to shampoo his carpet at home.

“It really struck a tone with people I think,” Maddon said. “I think it's because of his work ethic. Every day you go out and see Calvin working everyday rain or shine, and I think people really respect that.”

On Tuesday night Steves was direct and straight to the point, as he always is.

“Real good. Real good,” he said. “Thank you all for coming tonight.”