Great friend to Augusta laid to rest

One of Augusta's most positive developments is Fort Gordon's continued infrastructure and mission growth resulting from the community's successful BRAC effort.

Beyond the CSRA Alliance's tremendous leadership, no single individual was more responsible for this success than Col. Frank Norton.

Most residents do not know Col. Norton, a Waycross native who lived on St. Simons Island, but he had a special relationship with Augusta.

I had the pleasure of working with Frank and the Alliance in Washington during the last round of BRAC. His experiences at the highest levels of military and government service (former senior military adviser to Sen. Sam Nunn and the U.S. Senate) helped create an innovative and successful BRAC strategy for Fort Gordon that will benefit the CSRA for many years to come.

Frank's magnetism, generosity and obvious caring for others fostered his exceptional reputation and helped gain the trust of countless policy makers in Atlanta, Washington and at the Pentagon.

He performed his duties with a positive spirit of cooperation, energy and an infectious laugh too often lacking in government these days.

On June 30, Col. Norton died tragically while on vacation with his family in North Carolina. As an advocate and mentor to many in Washington, Frank was surely a strategic asset lost by the state of Georgia and Augusta.

He will be missed by his many friends throughout the country who loved and respected him.

Alex Albert