MISSIONARY, THEOLOGIAN, professor. Innovator, leader, servant of Jesus. Husband, father, friend. During his long life, Dr. H. Wilbert Norton ’36 filled each of these roles, motivated and anchored by his strong commitment to Christian responsibility. Dr. Øyvind Aadland M.A. ’87 describes his colleague, “Will,” as a man who worked for inclusivity and maintained “a deep respect for the dignity of every person.” Wheaton College President Dr. Philip Ryken ’88 confirms this: “Dr. Norton’s warm heart for sharing the gospel . . . has an enduring legacy in the world today through the many lives he touched and the many thriving institutions (including Wheaton College) that he worked to start or helped to grow.”

From planning the first InterVarsity Missions conference, now known as Urbana; to his service with his wife Colene in the Belgian Congo; to his academic work at Trinity College and Evangelical Divinity School, where he ultimately became president; at Wheaton College Graduate School, where as dean he initiated the M.A. in Intercultural Studies and authored the influential missiology book, What’s Gone Wrong with the Harvest?: A Communication Strategy for Church and World Evangelism; to his development of the Bible Institute of Ubangi (now Goyongo Theological Seminary) and additional academic programs and efforts, Dr. Norton was a man of integrity and vision, who used his extraordinary communication skills to encourage holistic Christian ministry.

Dave Howard ’49, M.A. ’52, former director of Latin American Missions, head of InterVarsity Missions and Wheaton College Trustee emeritus, states, “It was one of the great blessings of my lifetime involvement in missions to know and love Will. He wears a shining crown today as one of the key mission leaders of the 20th century.”