Region 5 of the CTG Project was awarded the Norton Group Award at the North Carolina Public Health Association’s 2013 annual conference.
The Norton Group Award is given to a group for outstanding cooperation and service to public health in North Carolina during the past year.
Established in 1952, the award is presented annually in honor of Dr. John William Roy Norton, who served as State Health Director from 1948 thru 1965.
Congratulations Region 5, this is truly an honor and you all should be very proud!
Who is Dr. John W. R. Norton?
A Scotland County native, John William Roy Norton attended Trinity College (now Duke University) for both his undergraduate and law degrees. After two years of teaching and coaching at Lumberton High School and Sneads Grove school, Dr. Norton entered medical school at the University of North Carolina. He then earned his AA.D. at Vanderbilt University and practiced at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and later in Fort Smith, Arkansas, before returning to his home state to serve as Superintendent of Health in Rocky Mount.Prior to World War II, Dr. Norton served with the North Carolina Board of Health as Assistant Director of County Health Work and Assistant Director in the Division of Preventive Medicine, and also was Professor of Public Health Administration at the University of North Carolina.
After a distinguished record with the Army in North Africa, Italy and England during World War II, Dr. Norton joined the Tennessee Valley Authority as a Staff Officer.
On July 1, 1948, Dr. Norton became North Carolina State Health Director. Dr. Norton's tenure as Health Director was distinguished in many ways. His prompt and decisive action in combating the state's worst polio epidemic in 1948 brought this comment from Governor Dan K. Moore: "The citizens of North Carolina, if for no other reason, owe Dr. Norton a tremendous debt of gratitude for his prompt and zealous actions in dealing with the 1948 polio epidemic, which was the worst in the state's history."
During his 17 years of service, Dr. Norton continued to provide stable leadership and dedication to the State Board of Health staff and the public. He led the state to see polio practically eliminated and North Carolina's tuberculosis death toll cut from around 4,000 to less than 200 annually. His faithfulness to the job earned him numerous honors, including the presidency of the American Public Health Association.
Dr. Norton passed away in 1974 and was laid to rest in Scotland County. His gravestone reads, “John William Roy Norton M.D. July 11, 1898 – March 28, 1974, North Carolina State Health Director 1948 – 1967, World War I and II, He lives for his energy, was too powerful to die, and too dedicated to forget.”
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