Robert Norton, Jr.
October 14, 1948 ~ January 29, 2018
Robert King Norton Jr., 69, of rural Iowa City, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in a car accident. Norton was president and chief executive officer of KZIA, Inc.
Norton is survived by his niece, Mary Ellen Quinn Johnson, and her husband, Bruce, of Towson, Md.; great-nephews, Brennan and Leo Johnson; great-niece, Rory Johnson; and cocker spaniels Gordon and Katy.
Norton was born on Oct. 14, 1948, in Washington, D.C., to Robert K. Norton Sr. and Ellen McKee Franklin Norton, who preceded him in death, as did his older sister, Margaret Lee Norton. Norton grew up in Bethesda, Md., and attended Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Va.; the University of Maryland and the University of Iowa.
He began his radio career at WINX 1600 AM in Rockville, Md. Norton co-founded, with Eliot Keller, the first FM radio station in Iowa City, KRNA-FM, in 1974. He went on to co-found KZIA, Inc., and led the company following Keller's death in 2009. The Iowa Broadcasters Association named Norton "Broadcaster of the Year" in 2004.
Norton was a longtime member of the Staunton Military Academy Alumni Foundation.
Norton's family would like to thank Sheri and Tony Carter of Marion for their friendship.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mary Baldwin University, on the grounds of the former Staunton Military Academy, at marybaldwin.edu, and Last Hope Animal Rescue of Cedar Rapids, at adopthope.org.
Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services handled arrangements.
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Love you, Rob. Still can’t believe this. I’ll treasure the time we had together forever. So many memories. Just love you. Prayers for peace and for your family. Kim