Photo courtesy of Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home - Jacksonville Chapel
Aug 9, 1943 - Sep 18, 2013 (Age 70)
My condolence to Kenny from someone who was very fond of him and his family. May he rest in peace.
Mrs. Carter teacher of his son Kenny the third
January 06, 2026 | Other
As a boxing fan all my life; I was mourning the death of my husband of 41 years, who passed in April of 2013. To be browsing on TV & saw that Mr Norton was not with us anymore, I did get emotional. All my sympathies to his family. My husband & I both were BIG boxing fans! We were a blue class working family, but we subscribed to cable & HBO since 1972. Before PPV we could watch matches because of the HBO thing. But we always paid the extra PPV fee for all the matches when everyone had to....
Beloved fan
August 27, 2025 | Other
GOD BLESS YOU FAMILY AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
Randolph Brown
July 21, 2025 | Vauxhall Union, NJ
amazing bravery..not too many remember..tunney they do..jammal herring..yea emersns boozer ..j frazier and never a bad word..i say the yankee stadium fight III was kens ...duane bobbick ..grant hill..winston no his son not griffey his own son mann sting go.. cornell/columbo we can do and glowe
bernard campbell
June 08, 2025 | Nyc, NY | Student
One of the greatest that was ever in the game, my favorite boxer Ken Norton!!!
Dia Singleton
May 02, 2025
I watching boxing last night, I started thinking about the old time favorites. KEN you were one of the best heavyweights I love to watch back in the 70's plus it didn't hurt you were good looking too. ..THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR BOXING SKILLS WITH THE WORLD......RIP
Valenda Newell
June 26, 2016 | Indianapolis, IN
Semper Fi Marine RIP knowing that you accomplished, being a Dad and a U.S.Marine
April 02, 2016
one of the best boxer of all times kenneth norton r.i.p xx
kenneth samuels
March 01, 2016 | London, OH
One of my Fav boxers!
I was just watching Mandingo, hadn't seen in ages. You were do fine and still handsome to the end. A lot of peopler misd you, as a fan i miss you. RIP. Greetings and sympathies to the family and children of Ken Norton
Rhonda Johnson
January 17, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
Kenneth Howard Norton, Sr. was born to John and Ruth Norton on August 9, 1943, and was raised in Jacksonville, Illinois. Kenneth was an outstanding athlete and graduated from Jacksonville High School. Upon graduating, Kenneth earned several scholarships: football, basketball, and track. He accepted a football scholarship at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), where he studied elementary education.During his sophomore year he joined the United States Marine Corps. It was there that he started his career in boxing. As a Marine, he compiled an amateur record of 24-2 and won the All-Marine Heavyweight Championship three times. Ken won the U.S. trials for the 1967 Pan American Games and began his professional boxing career after his release from duty in 1967.Ken, known for his distinctive cross-armed defense, was nicknamed the "Black Hercules". In 1973 Ken broke Muhammad Ali's jaw and gained his second nickname as "The Jawbreaker." He finished his career with a boxing record of 42-7-1 and 33 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992 and ranked 22nd among the 50 greatest heavyweights of all time.Ken appeared in various films and television series. He also worked as a television and radio sports commentator and was a member of the Sports Illustrated Speakers Bureau. His greatest achievement was being twice-named "Father of the Year" in 1977, by both The Los Angeles Sentinel and The Los Angeles Times.Ken was preceded in death by his parents John and Ruth Norton.Left to cherish his memory are his wife Rose Conant-Norton (married 2012-2013), and her children Fabian and Chelsea. Ken leaves behind his loving and dedicated children: Keith, Kenneth Jr. and his wife, Angela, Brandon, Kenisha, and Kene Jon. His adoring grandchildren: Brittney, Sabrina, Kenneth III, Michael, Kameron, Nicholas, Kayliana, Havana, and Kene Jon II; and his former wives Jeannette Henderson (married 1966 – 1968), and Jacqueline Norton (married 1977 – 2000).He also leaves behind his beloved Uncle Abe Brown, sister Sandy Ver Linden, and a host of family and friends. Funeral services will be held Friday September 27th, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville, Illinois. Friends may visit the funeral home after 1 p.m. Thursday, September 26th, 2013, where members of the family will meet friends from 4-7 p.m. Graveside committal services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, October 7, 2013, at Jacksonville East Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to "Pathway Services", http://pathwayservices.org. Condolences may be left at www.buchanancody.com
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