Norman Lee Sisson Sr.

A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Norman L. Sisson passed from this life on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at age 86. Norman was a retired colonel with the U.S. Air Force, an engineer, an attorney and a former general counsel of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development with 35 years of state service. A native of Topeka, Kan., in 1942 Norman volunteered for military service at age 17. He flew 35 bombing missions over Nazi Germany as pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress. For his skill and valor in more than 300 combat hours, he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Purple Heart Medal, the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Presidential Unit Citation. At 20 years of age, he completed his remaining 19 missions as one of the youngest squadron leaders ever in the European Theater. The Air Force recalled him for service in the Korean War, where he served as an engineer and test pilot for the development of combat jets, trained pilots in proficiency flying and flew B-47 bombers in the Strategic Air Command. In 1957, he returned to reserve duty and was appointed to the Judge Advocate General's Office, from which he assumed responsibility for all legal activities of that office throughout the state of Louisiana, and where he continued to serve until his retirement from military service in 1982 as a full colonel. In 1983, Norman was named general counsel of the Louisiana Department of Transportation. In 1983, Norman was also named a recipient of the Charles E. Dunbar Career Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the state of Louisiana upon its career employees. From 1960 through 1990, Norman was recognized as a central figure in the development of highway and transportation law in Louisiana. He acquired a reputation as a national authority on governmental tort law. Upon invitation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, he conducted a series of tort seminars nationally which the association later filmed for distribution to transportation departments across the country, and in 1992 the association honored him as the most outstanding transportation attorney in the nation. He was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge for more than 50 years, serving on the board of supervisors, on many committees and as a Sunday school teacher. He served as assistant director for the local High School Campus Crusade for Christ, as charter president of the Broadmoor High School Athletic Boosters Club, as assistant scoutmaster, as sponsor, manager and assistant coach for neighborhood softball and basketball teams and as a leader in the annual March of Dimes Campaign. He was an avid photographer and loved reading and learning about astronomy, history and archaeology, especially military history and biblical archaeology. What he loved most of all, however, was his family and friends, being with them and sharing with them. Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Florence Sisson; brothers, Fred, Bobby and Jerry; sisters, Jane and Betty; and a son, Jon Jeffery Sisson. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret Vaughan Sisson; two sons, Norman Lee Sisson Jr. and wife Linda, and Robert Vaughan Sisson and wife Paula; sisters, June and Dickie; grandchildren, Brad Sisson, Ryan Sisson and wife Shelley, Kelly Sisson, Hallie Delaney and husband Kevin, Aaron Sisson and wife Chisato, Megan Romano and husband Chad, and Alina Portz; great-grandchildren, Sebastian Sisson, Brian Sisson, Reagan Sisson, Finnon Delaney, Talulah Delaney and Sarah Kate Sisson. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Family and friends are welcome at Broadmoor United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 15, from noon until service at 2 p.m.