Ga. loses 'great patriot'
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor
Rep. Norwood passes away at age 65

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Congressman Charlie Norwood (left) stopped by to visit former Union County Commissioner Harold Cook last fall. Norwood took the opportunity to get some of the Cook's blackberry jelly, which he described as "the best in the United States."

Georgia Republican Congressman Charles Norwood passed away at the age of 65 last Tuesday, February 13, due to complications stemming from an eightyear battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The disease eventually led to lung disease and cancer.

Norwood had represented Georgia's 10th Congressional district since 1995 and at one time represented Union County. Although redistricting eventually meant that he would no longer directly serve Union County, Norwood's reach went beyond a single district and he still has many supporters here.

Former Union County Commissioner Harold Cook echoed the sentiments of President George W. Bush and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, who both praised Norwood for his principles and dedication.

"I just want to say that I think Georgia and Union County have lost a great patriot and a great man," Cook said. "When he became congressman of this district I took him around and introduced him to everybody and we became close friends. He came back over here and visited me quite a bit."

Rep. Charles Norwood

Over the years Norwood became well-known for his dry wit. When this reporter met Norwood for the first time last year and remarked that it was nice to finally meet him in person after years of seeing him on shows like "Meet the Press," Norwood was quick to joke that he would rather talk to the local media any day than get grilled by the likes of Tim Russert.

The longtime legislator was famous for those types of comments, as he never seemed afraid to say what was on his mind. He even criticized his own party from time to time, once calling some "turncoats" for what he felt was a soft stance on illegal immigration.

Though he was very outspoken about issues such as illegal immigration and gun control, Norwood's real passion was health care. Having served in the medical field as a dentist, Norwood fought for the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell Patient's Bill of Rights, which would restore the right of American patients to hold federally-governed health plans liable in a state court of law for medical decisions and improper denials of care that cause injury or death.

Though it had previously failed, Norwood reintroduced the bill before leaving Congress earlier this month, when he went home to Augusta for hospice care.

Norwood himself underwent a single lung transplant in October 2004 after experiencing continued lung deterioration from IPF, and was successfully treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in November 2005. Cancer development is a common side effect of immune-suppression drugs taken by lung-transplant patients. Norwood's latest battle began shortly after he easily won reelection in November 2006, when metastatic NSCLC was discovered in his liver.

Apublic visitation was held Wednesday, February 14, followed by a funeral at First Baptist Church of Augusta on Thursday. Congressman Charles Norwood is survived by his wife Gloria, sons Charles and Carlton, and four grandchildren, all of Augusta, Ga.