On Saturday, April 15, Callies Performance Products’ Founder Richard Norton Jr. passed away. His son, Heath Norton, posted a message and numerous photos of his dad to his Facebook page, confirming the news. Heath’s message is below.
“Yesterday, we had a great one move on to his next journey. My father Richard Walter Norton Jr. (Rick Norton) joined his heavenly Father/Mother yesterday with family by his side wishing him well and praying for a peaceful journey.
He will be sorely missed by his families both at home and at work (Aviation Manufacturing, Callies Performance Products, and Energy Manufacturing Ltd.) and is a larger-than-life personality that asked for little and gave much to many. His generosity in life was profound, and continues with the wealth of knowledge he passed to all who spent time with him.
My father deeply loves his family (home and work) and passionately supports all in it. His grandchildren are the light of his life, they brought him continuous joy. Additionally, he is a loyal friend to many and was an unmovable rock for all of us.
He has an absolute passion for manufacturing and taught all who worked with him, and he is rewarded with fierce loyalty and dedication of his work family. We will continue our march forward to provide our customers and friends with world class products. While we will miss him walking through the shop, we know he will always be with us and continue to cheer us all on!
It is hard to loose your boss, friend, mentor, and most importantly, your father all at once, but I live with the comfort of the many conversations and lessons he taught me to keep our dreams alive and execute our plans for Aviation, Callies, and Energy.
Godspeed on your journey dad, I do not have words to describe what you meant to me. I love you and will always hold you in my heart.
Today we morn, tomorrow we make crankshafts, connecting rods, camshafts and engine blocks. Just as he would expect and demand of us.”
The Engine Builder team got to visit Callies numerous times over the years, and got to spend time just last summer with Rick and Heath to talk about how Callies came to be the great company it is. See the video below.