Augusta, Ga.-Dentist/Rep. Charles Whitlow Norwood Jr., who rose to leadership in Congress from the practice of dentistry to champion patient rights, died at home Feb. 13 after an eight-year battle with disease. He was 65 years old.

"The country has lost a great leader today and dentistry's greatest advocate for the profession and patients will be sorely missed," said ADA President Kathleen Roth. "Charlie Norwood was a well respected, honored statesman but always a dentist first. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
"Today, dentistry lost one of its giants and America lost a great congressman," said Dr. James B. Bramson, ADA executive director. "Charlie could always cut through the clutter and tell it straight. He worked tirelessly to protect patients and help ease the burdens of small businesses. We will miss him greatly."

Rep. Norwood, a Republican who described himself as "a gung-ho conservative," represented Georgia's 10th congressional district since 1995 and was re-elected in November 2006 by a landslide margin. He returned to Congress as feisty as ever, battling cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis yet capable of the "reach across the political aisle" that brought him national recognition and professional embrace.

In a last act as a member of Congress, Rep. Norwood ordered reintroduction without change of the 1999 bipartisan Norwood-Dingell Patient's Bill of Rights legislation that fell short of final passage after gaining approval from the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in separate sessions of Congress. "Now we have a new mix, and Democratic leadership in the House and Senate that has publicly supported the bill in the past," he said in a Feb. 12 statement. "There is no reason we can't pass the original, un-compromised bill with a veto-proof majority." Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), whose party is now in the majority, chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Rep. Norwood served throughout his congressional career, which included health subcommittee leadership positions.
Shortly after Rep. Norwood's death, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a statement recognizing his achievements and contributions.

"As a member of Congress, he did his best to serve his constituents, his conscience and his country," said Speaker Pelosi in a statement posted on her Web site.

In 2000, Rep. Norwood received the ADA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, for his "reach across the political aisle" in support of the Association-backed patient rights legislation.

He received his doctorate of dental surgery degree from Georgetown University Dental School in 1967, where he was elected president of the dental school student body in his senior year. After dental school, he volunteered for the U.S. Army, serving as a captain in the dental corps from 1967-69. Transferred to the Medical Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam, he served a combat tour and was awarded the Combat Medical Badge and two Bronze Stars.

Capt. Norwood was one of the first participants in an Army outreach program that delivered dentists to forward firebases in lieu of transferring patients to rear treatment areas. He participated in experimental military dental practices that became standard procedure for the armed forces after the war.

Dr. Norwood began private practice dentistry in Augusta immediately after his discharge from military service and quickly rose to professional leadership, serving as president of the Eastern District Dental Society and the Georgia Dental Association. He founded the Augusta Dental Disaster Society. An ADA member, he served as a delegate to the ADA House. He was a member and honorary fellow of many professional organizations including the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists.
He was born in Valdosta, Ga., July 27, 1941 and was elected to Congress in 1994.

He is survived by his wife Gloria, sons Charles and Carlton Norwood, and four grandchildren, all of Augusta. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Thomas Poteet and Son Funeral Directors in Martinez, Ga. A schedule of public services will be announced by the 10th congressional district office when details are finalized.

The ADA Foundation is accepting memorial contributions in memory of Dr. Norwood and will forward these contributions to a charity designated by the family. All contributions will be acknowledged by the ADA Foundation and the Norwood family, and the designated charity will be notified of these expressions of sympathy.