22 Facts About Charlie Norwood

At the time of his death, Norwood was the representative of the 10th District of Georgia.

Charlie Norwood served as a captain in the United States Army from 1967 to 1969, beginning with an assignment to the US Army Dental Corps at Sandia Army Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Charlie Norwood was one of the first participants in the Army's outreach program that delivered dentists to forward firebases in lieu of transferring patients to rear treatment areas.

Charlie Norwood provided some of the first field-based dental treatment of military guard dogs, and assisted in non-dental trauma care in Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals.

In recognition of his service under combat conditions, Charlie Norwood was awarded the Combat Medical Badge and two Bronze Stars.

Charlie Norwood remained a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Military Order of the World Wars until his death.

In late 1993, Charlie Norwood sold his dental practice to run for Congress in the 1994 elections as a Republican in the Augusta-based 10th District.

Charlie Norwood became the first Republican to represent his northeastern Georgia district since Reconstruction.

Charlie Norwood was nearly defeated in 1996, winning by only four points.

Charlie Norwood easily turned back spirited challenges in 1998 and 2000.

Charlie Norwood was reelected from this heavily Republican district with 73 percent of the vote.

In 2004, Charlie Norwood received 74 percent of the vote against Democrat Bob Ellis.

Charlie Norwood was handily reelected, taking 68 percent of the vote against Democrat Terry Holley.

Charlie Norwood co-wrote a provision to the recent Deficit Reduction Act that bars illegal aliens from getting Medicaid.

Charlie Norwood worked throughout much of his career to pass a patients' bill of rights, aimed at giving people better access to health care and greater ability to sue insurers.

Charlie Norwood reintroduced the bill before leaving Washington [in February 2007].

Charlie Norwood criticized government intrusion into personal and business practices and was one of 33 House members who voted against renewing the Voting Rights Act [in 2006], arguing that it discriminates against Southern states over long-past racial transgressions.

Charlie Norwood regarded the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which requires certain jurisdictions to obtain federal approval before enacting changes to their election laws, as "blatant discrimination" against the targeted states.

Charlie Norwood opposed changing Georgia's state flag to one with less overt Confederate imagery.

In 1998, Charlie Norwood was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, something he initially kept secret.

The disease was believed to be caused by the immunosuppressants Charlie Norwood had to take due to the lung transplant.

Charlie Norwood was survived by his wife, 2 children, and 4 grandchildren.