Paul Louis Norton's Obituary
Paul Louis Norton of Lewes, Delaware, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at Christiana Hospital. He was 79.
Paul was born in Olean, NY, on May 13, 1929 to Ivers J. and Ailene Eaton Norton. The third of six children, he began his distinguished 50-year career in radio and television broadcasting in 1946 while a senior in high school with an on-the-air job at the local radio station. Within four years, he would be an announcer and disc jockey for radio stations in Schenectady and Albany and make three newscasts a day as the "Crosley Reporter" for WKBW Radio in Buffalo.
Paul was drafted into the Army in December, 1950 and was sent to Korea as second lieutenant in 1952. As a forward artillery observer, he penetrated enemy territory to radio in coordinates for artillery fire. He was honorably discharged as first lieutenant in 1953, after fighting in some of the war's most savage conflicts, including Old Baldy, Arrowhead, and Pork Chop Hill, a battle whose outcome was crucial to the peace negotiations ending the war.
Paul immediately resumed his broadcasting career in Buffalo with WGR Radio as a newscaster, disc jockey, and co-host of a nightly game show called "A Shower for the Bride." He became the company's first TV announcer and, in an era when broadcasters were expected to do everything, became its weekend weatherman, newscaster, co-host on a cooking show, the clown "Tommy Tucker" on a children's program, and announcer for live commercials. His first appearances on national TV began with his local cut-ins for NBC's Today Show.
In 1956, Paul married Nancy Bieger, who would be his beloved wife for 52 years and with whom he would have five children. They moved to Washington, DC, where Paul earned a B.A. in English from Georgetown University while working full-time as a local disc jockey and television weatherman, a CBS network announcer for many national programs, a newscaster for the Voice of America's World Wide English-language division, and a weekend host for its world-wide jazz program, Music, USA.
Paul continued his career in Philadelphia in 1959, broadcasting and producing at WFIL Radio and WPVI TV-6 for the next 37 years. To his duties as a disc jockey, he added news, sports, and weather reporting, hosting the game shows The Money Movie, The Morning Movie, and Racing Time, and co-hosting The Street Where You Live with Larry Ferrari, Dolls and Dollars with Al Meltzer, and a morning show with Connie Roussin. Beginning in 1972 and for the next 20 years, he was the producer and host of Perspective Delaware, Perspective New Jersey, and Perspective Pennsylvania, where his dedication to covering human-interest stories led him to other countries and spurred him to conduct an interview while donating a pint of blood. His guests included many senators, governors, authors, educators, and public figures. He brought the same talents to the station's religion programs, for which he interviewed clergy of all faiths. He produced People to People and the popular Sunday morning show Inside Story with Marc Howard for many years.
In June of 2000, the Delaware House of Representatives presented Paul with an achievement award on the floor of the House for his dedication to the coverage of worthwhile causes. He was welcomed officially to Delaware by the state legislature in March, 2001. He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in November of 2001 for a "lifetime of achievements in broadcasting communications."
Paul's work with civic organizations included being President of the Glenside (PA) Kiwanis in 1972, President of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia in 1986, writer of the Broadcast Pioneers Newsletter for over 20 years, appointee to the Delaware Board of Elections by Governor Ruth Ann Minner, President (2002-2004) of the Military Officers Association of Southern Delaware (MOAA), Communications teacher at Delaware Technical and Community College, guest lecturer at Wilmington College, member of the Ad Hoc Radio Theatre Group of Possum Point Players, and Board member of the Sussex Family YMCA, and the Rotary Club of Lewes/Rehoboth.
Paul cherished his time and friendships in Lewes, Delaware since retiring in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; their five children Paul; Michael and his wife Joy and their two sons Tom and Robby; Bob; Lisa Kerrigan and her husband Kevin; and Mark and his wife Ai and their son Kent; a sister Gloria Fant; and three brothers Don of Rehoboth, Tom, and Ike and his wife Pat.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 13, at St. Jude the Apostle Church, DE Route 1 North of Five Points, Lewes. A viewing will be held Tuesday, August 12, 6:00-9:00 PM at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fisher House Foundation-Helping Military Families, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20852.
Send online condolences to: [email protected]
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