The audience erupted in laughter.

"I don't remember that," he said when it quieted down only to have the room explode once more.

There was another tale of Garner being tossed from a football game in Tulsa for chasing a guy into the stands. Owning up to his brief loss of temper, Garner sheepishly said, "I did chase a guy up through the stadium, but he got away."

It was then Chesley presented Garner with his diploma, a link she said would forever tie him to Norman High.

"We love you," she said. "We want you to have one just like your friends."

With the document in hand, Garner examined the words written and then expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you so much for this," he said. "I really value this. I had a great time at Norman High, and everybody treated me nice even though I was a bit of a screw-up, and I didn't show up much. Thank you one and all."

Like most new graduates, Garner could be found accepting congratulations. He even managed to shake more hands, take more photos and make time for as many as he could.

Outside the library, Jack reflected on the what the day meant to his brother. "He is very honored and proud," he said. In a display of wit every bit as sharp as James', Jack showed some things do run in the family. "He is overwhelmed," he said. "It's something that shouldn't happen to him or me or anybody. He ain't anybody. He is just my brother."

And when Garner's statue is unveiled this afternoon, he will just be Jim, Norman's Native Son.

Tony Pennington 366-3541 schools@normantranscript.com