Charlie Norwood
Encyclopedia
Charles Whitlow Norwood, Jr., D.D.S.
(July 27, 1941 – February 13, 2007) was an American politician
and dentist
, serving as a Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1995 until his death. At the time of his death, Norwood was the Representative of the 10th District
of Georgia
.
, Norwood graduated from Baylor School
, then a military academy, in Chattanooga, TN. He then attended Georgia Southern University
in Statesboro, GA and Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
. Before entering the House, Norwood operated a successful dentist
ry practice in Augusta
.
He married his wife, Gloria, in 1962. They had two sons, Charles and Carlton, and lived in Evans, Georgia
; a suburb of Augusta.
from 1967 to 1969, beginning with an assignment to the U.S. Army Dental Corps
at Sandia Army Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. In 1968 he was transferred to the Medical Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam
, and served a combat tour at Quin Yon, An Khe, and LZ
English at Bon Son. During his tour, he participated in experimental military dental practices that are now standard procedure for the armed forces. Norwood was one of the first participants in the Army's outreach program that delivered dentists to forward firebases in lieu of transferring patients to rear treatment areas. He provided some of the first field-based dental treatment of military guard dogs, and assisted in non-dental trauma care in Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
s.
In recognition of his service under combat conditions, Norwood was awarded the Combat Medical Badge
and two Bronze Stars
. After Vietnam, Norwood was assigned to the Dental Corps at Fort Gordon
, Georgia, where he served until his discharge in 1969. He remained a member of the American Legion
, the Veterans of Foreign Wars
, and the Military Order of the World Wars until his death.
As a tribute to his life and service, The Veterans Administration hospital in Augusta, GA, bears his name and is officially known as the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
.
as a Republican in the Augusta-based 10th District. In that election, he routed freshman Democratic incumbent Don Johnson
by a shocking 31-point margin—one of the largest margins of defeat of the 1994 election cycle. He became the first Republican to represent his northeastern Georgia district since Reconstruction.
Norwood was nearly defeated in 1996, winning by only four points. He easily turned back spirited challenges in 1998 and 2000. However, in the 2000s round of redistricting, the Democratic-controlled state legislature crafted a congressional map designed to elect seven Democrats and six Republicans; at the time Georgia's congressional delegation consisted of eight Republicans and five Democrats. In the process, the legislature renumbered Norwood's district as the 9th District and shifted most of Augusta—which had been the heart of the district and its predecessors for over a century—to the newly-created 12th District. To make up for the loss in population, Norwood's district picked up some more Republican territory in the North Georgia mountains
. Norwood was reelected from this now heavily Republican district with 73 percent of the vote.
In 2004, Norwood received 74 percent of the vote against Democrat
Bob Ellis. In 2006, his district was renumbered the 10th once again, and was pushed slightly to the west, absorbing Athens
in the process. Athens was home to Democratic 12th District Congressman John Barrow
, and Barrow was forced to move to Savannah
rather than face certain defeat. Norwood was handily reelected, taking 68 percent of the vote against Democrat Terry Holley.
The Washington Post wrote the following in a summary of his career:
. In December 2006, he underwent chemotherapy
for cancer, which had spread to his liver
. The disease was believed to be caused by the immunosuppressants
Norwood had to take due to the lung transplant. After the reconvening of Congress in January 2007, Norwood missed most of the sessions due to weakness from the chemotherapy.
During the State of the Union address on January 23, 2007, President George W. Bush
noted Congressman Norwood's absence from the Hall of the House and extended his thoughts for a speedy recovery.
On February 7, Norwood's office announced that he was forgoing further treatment for his cancer, and would be returning to Augusta
in order to receive in-home hospice care.
Norwood died nearly one week later, on February 13. At approximately 2:02 PM Eastern time on the day of his death, a few moments of silence were observed for Norwood on the House floor. This moment of silence was repeated at 2:21 PM, at the behest of a delegation of Congressmen from Georgia. Norwood was survived by his wife, 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. President Bush said that he and his wife Laura were saddened by Norwood's death. "Charlie was a good friend and a strong, spirited legislator who always stuck to his principles, remembering that his duty was to represent the best interests of the citizens of his district," the President said in a written statement released by the White House.
|+ : Results 1992–2000, 2006;
: Results 2002–2004
!|Year
!|District
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1994
|
|
| |Don Johnson
| align="right" |51,192
| |35%
|
| |
| align="right" |96,099
| |65%
|
|-
|1996
|
|
| |David Bell
| align="right" |88,054
| |48%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |96,723
| |52%
|
|-
|1998
|
|
| |
| align="right" |60,004
| |40%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |88,527
| |60%
|
|-
|2000
|
|
| |
| align="right" |71,309
| |37%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |122,590
| |63%
|
|-
|2002
|
|
| |Barry Irwin
| align="right" |45,974
| |27%
|
| |
| align="right" |123,313
| |73%
|
|-
|2004
|
|
| |Bob Ellis
| align="right" |68,462
| |26%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |197,869
| |74%
|
|-
|2006
|
|
| |Terry Holley
| align="right" |57,032
| |33%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |117,721
| |67%
|
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
(July 27, 1941 – February 13, 2007) was an American politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
and dentist
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, serving as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1995 until his death. At the time of his death, Norwood was the Representative of the 10th District
Georgia's 10th congressional district
Georgia's 10th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located in the northeastern part of the state, the district includes the cities of Athens, Evans, Augusta, Watkinsville, and Toccoa...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Early life and education
Born in Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
, Norwood graduated from Baylor School
Baylor School
Baylor School is a private, coeducational prep school on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1893 and since 1915 has been located on the same hillside site by the Tennessee River. The school went through several incarnations: moving from an all-male military academy...
, then a military academy, in Chattanooga, TN. He then attended Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
in Statesboro, GA and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Before entering the House, Norwood operated a successful dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
ry practice in Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
.
He married his wife, Gloria, in 1962. They had two sons, Charles and Carlton, and lived in Evans, Georgia
Evans, Georgia
Evans is a census-designated place in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is an affluent suburb of Augusta and is part of the Augusta - Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,727 at the 2000 census and, in 2006, the population was 20,681.Evans, possibly named...
; a suburb of Augusta.
Military service
Norwood served as a Captain in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1967 to 1969, beginning with an assignment to the U.S. Army Dental Corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
at Sandia Army Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. In 1968 he was transferred to the Medical Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and served a combat tour at Quin Yon, An Khe, and LZ
Landing Zone
A Landing Zone or "LZ" is a military term for any area where an aircraft can land.In the United States military, a landing zone is the actual point where aircraft land...
English at Bon Son. During his tour, he participated in experimental military dental practices that are now standard procedure for the armed forces. Norwood was one of the first participants in the Army's outreach program that delivered dentists to forward firebases in lieu of transferring patients to rear treatment areas. He provided some of the first field-based dental treatment of military guard dogs, and assisted in non-dental trauma care in Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
The Mobile Army Surgical Hospital refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The U.S...
s.
In recognition of his service under combat conditions, Norwood was awarded the Combat Medical Badge
Combat Medical Badge
The Combat Medical Badge is an award of the United States Army which was first created in January 1945. The badge is awarded to any member of the Army Medical Department, at the rank of Colonel or below, who are assigned or attached to a medical unit which provides medical support to a ground...
and two Bronze Stars
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. After Vietnam, Norwood was assigned to the Dental Corps at Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon, formerly known as Camp Gordon, is a United States Army installation established in 1917. It is the current home of the United States Army Signal Corps and Signal Center and was once the home of "The Provost Marshal General School" . The fort is located in Richmond, Jefferson, McDuffie,...
, Georgia, where he served until his discharge in 1969. He remained a member of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, and the Military Order of the World Wars until his death.
As a tribute to his life and service, The Veterans Administration hospital in Augusta, GA, bears his name and is officially known as the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is a Veterans Administration hospital in Augusta, Georgia . The center has two campuses: the Downtown Division and the Uptown Division. The Downtown Division is a seven-story complex in Augusta's Medical District...
.
Congressional campaigns
In late 1993, Norwood sold his dental practice to run for Congress in the 1994 electionsUnited States House elections, 1994
The 1994 U.S. House of Representatives election was held on November 8, 1994, in the middle of President Bill Clinton's first term. As a result of a 54-seat swing in membership from Democrats to Republicans, the Republican Party gained a majority of seats in the United States House of...
as a Republican in the Augusta-based 10th District. In that election, he routed freshman Democratic incumbent Don Johnson
Clete Donald Johnson, Jr.
Clete Donald "Don" Johnson, Jr. is an American politician, diplomat, lawyer and academic from the state of Georgia.- Early life and education :...
by a shocking 31-point margin—one of the largest margins of defeat of the 1994 election cycle. He became the first Republican to represent his northeastern Georgia district since Reconstruction.
Norwood was nearly defeated in 1996, winning by only four points. He easily turned back spirited challenges in 1998 and 2000. However, in the 2000s round of redistricting, the Democratic-controlled state legislature crafted a congressional map designed to elect seven Democrats and six Republicans; at the time Georgia's congressional delegation consisted of eight Republicans and five Democrats. In the process, the legislature renumbered Norwood's district as the 9th District and shifted most of Augusta—which had been the heart of the district and its predecessors for over a century—to the newly-created 12th District. To make up for the loss in population, Norwood's district picked up some more Republican territory in the North Georgia mountains
North Georgia mountains
The Georgia Mountains Region or North Georgia mountains or Northeast Georgia is an area that starts in the northeast corner of Georgia, United States, and spreads in a westerly direction. The mountains in this region are in the Blue Ridge mountain chain that ends in Georgia...
. Norwood was reelected from this now heavily Republican district with 73 percent of the vote.
In 2004, Norwood received 74 percent of the vote against Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bob Ellis. In 2006, his district was renumbered the 10th once again, and was pushed slightly to the west, absorbing Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
in the process. Athens was home to Democratic 12th District Congressman John Barrow
John Barrow (U.S. politician)
John Jenkins Barrow is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district stretches along the eastern portion of the state, from Augusta to Savannah.-Early life, education and career:...
, and Barrow was forced to move to Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
rather than face certain defeat. Norwood was handily reelected, taking 68 percent of the vote against Democrat Terry Holley.
Congressional career
Norwood was a staunch supporter of tight immigration control, and "called for putting nearly 40,000 troops on the U.S.-Mexico border. He co-wrote a provision to the recent Deficit Reduction Act that bars illegal aliens from getting Medicaid."The Washington Post wrote the following in a summary of his career:
Illness and death
In 2004, Norwood underwent a lung transplant due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive form of lung disease characterized by fibrosis of the supporting framework of the lungs...
. In December 2006, he underwent chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
for cancer, which had spread to his liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
. The disease was believed to be caused by the immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drugs or immunosuppressive agents are drugs that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. They are used in immunosuppressive therapy to:...
Norwood had to take due to the lung transplant. After the reconvening of Congress in January 2007, Norwood missed most of the sessions due to weakness from the chemotherapy.
During the State of the Union address on January 23, 2007, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
noted Congressman Norwood's absence from the Hall of the House and extended his thoughts for a speedy recovery.
On February 7, Norwood's office announced that he was forgoing further treatment for his cancer, and would be returning to Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
in order to receive in-home hospice care.
Norwood died nearly one week later, on February 13. At approximately 2:02 PM Eastern time on the day of his death, a few moments of silence were observed for Norwood on the House floor. This moment of silence was repeated at 2:21 PM, at the behest of a delegation of Congressmen from Georgia. Norwood was survived by his wife, 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. President Bush said that he and his wife Laura were saddened by Norwood's death. "Charlie was a good friend and a strong, spirited legislator who always stuck to his principles, remembering that his duty was to represent the best interests of the citizens of his district," the President said in a written statement released by the White House.
Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"|+ : Results 1992–2000, 2006;
: Results 2002–2004
!|Year
!|District
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1994
|
|
| |Don Johnson
Clete Donald Johnson, Jr.
Clete Donald "Don" Johnson, Jr. is an American politician, diplomat, lawyer and academic from the state of Georgia.- Early life and education :...
| align="right" |51,192
| |35%
|
| |
| align="right" |96,099
| |65%
|
|-
|1996
|
|
| |David Bell
| align="right" |88,054
| |48%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |96,723
| |52%
|
|-
|1998
|
|
| |
| align="right" |60,004
| |40%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |88,527
| |60%
|
|-
|2000
|
|
| |
| align="right" |71,309
| |37%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |122,590
| |63%
|
|-
|2002
|
|
| |Barry Irwin
| align="right" |45,974
| |27%
|
| |
| align="right" |123,313
| |73%
|
|-
|2004
|
|
| |Bob Ellis
| align="right" |68,462
| |26%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |197,869
| |74%
|
|-
|2006
|
|
| |Terry Holley
Terry Holley
Terry Holley is a businessman and Democratic nominee for the 2006 U.S. House election in Georgia's 10th congressional district. Receiving 33% of the vote, he lost to incumbent Republican Charlie Norwood who won the other 67%. After Norwood's death on February 13, 2007, Holley announced he will run...
| align="right" |57,032
| |33%
|
| |Charlie Norwood
| align="right" |117,721
| |67%
|
External links
Retrieved on 2008-07-12- Federal Election Commission — Charlie Norwood campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Charlie Norwood issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Charles W. Norwood campaign contributions
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Charlie Norwood voting record