1914-1986

Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer who, with Sir Edmund Hillary, was the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Norgay was born and spent his early years in Solo Khumbu, Nepal, just south of Mount Everest. As a boy, he ran away from home and settled in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. In 1935 he served as a porter to Sir Eric Shipton on a reconnaissance expedition to Everest. Several other Everest expeditions followed, and Norgay progressed to the position of sirdar, an organizer of porters. In 1953 he accompanied Hillary to the summit of Everest, making history as the first to set foot on the mountain's 29,028-foot (8,850 m) peak. Norgay was a hero to many Nepalese and Indians, and was awarded several honors for his mountaineering.