The Lincoln County Republican Party held its Mass Meeting on March 15 to elect delegates to the 10th District and Georgia Conventions. Mike Seigler, Lyle Kelly, Nelson Brooks and J B Mathews were selected as delegates. The group was reminded that there is no such thing as a super delegate in the Republican Party.

The party further decided to fund another scholarship in honor of Charlie Norwood. Gloria Norwood, Congressman Norwood's widow, had previously funded a scholarship in the Congressman's honor for a Lincoln County High School Senior.

"Charlie had a special place in his heart for Lincoln County. He said that no matter how his district was drawn, Lincoln County was always in it," Mrs. Norwood said. Mrs. Norwood will award the scholarships on Awards Night at the High School.

Charles Whitlow Norwood, Jr was a Georgia Boy who did real good. Charlie was an American politician and dentist, serving as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from the 10th District of Georgia.

Born in Valdosta, Georgia, Norwood graduated from Baylor School, then a military academy, in Chattanooga, TN. He then attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Norwood was a dentist before entering the US House of Representatives.

Norwood served as a Captain in the United States Army from 1967 to 1969. In 1968 he was transferred to the Medical Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam, and served a combat tour at Quin Yon, An Khe, and LZ English at Bon Son. 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. In recognition of his service under combat conditions, Norwood was awarded the Combat Medical Badge and two Bronze Stars. After Vietnam, Norwood was assigned to the Dental Corps at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he served until his discharge in 1969. In Congress, Charlie Norwood never forgot his Army buddies.

In 1994, as a relative unknown, Norwood defeated Democratic incumbent Clete Donald Johnson, Jr., becoming the first Republican to represent our northeastern Georgia district since Reconstruction.

He was a staunch supporter of tight immigration control, and called for putting nearly 40,000 troops on the U.S.-Mexico border. He co-wrote a provision to the Deficit Reduction Act that bars illegal aliens from getting Medicaid.

President Bush said "Charlie was a good friend and a strong, spirited legislator who always stuck to his principles, remembering that his duty was to represent the best interests of the citizens of his district."

Charlie Norwood believed in the principles of the Republican Party and that all men were created equal. Charlie also believed in the citizens of his district and that our best investment is our youth. Because of his life, the Lincoln County Republican Party will award the two scholarships to a Lincoln County High School senior in Congressman Norwood's honor. The merit scholarship will be awarded based on an essay prepared by applicants. The essays will be judged anonymously with the high school guidance office retaining the applicant's names. The topic for the essay is "How have the principles of Abraham Lincoln's Republican Party changed and not changed in the last 150 years?" Essays are due on April 4, 2008. Essay judges are Brett McGuire, J B Mathews and Nelson Brooks. Lincoln County seniors are urged to contact Ms. Ellen Butler for further details. Ms. Butler has already sent this information to every Lincoln County High School senior and teacher.

This year's scholarships will be for $500.00 each and plans are to increase this award. A golf tournament is in the planning stages for June at Golf de L (Rocky Branch). The shotgun start tournament and lunch promise some election year surprises for the players and golf will be limited to 25 teams with a larger group for lunch. Three local groups have voluntarily contacted the Republican Party and asked to sponsor a hole at the tournament because of how Congressman Norwood helped Lincoln County. Details will be published in The Journal. Anyone with questions or ideas can contact the Lincoln County Republican Party at gop@nuz. net.