By Charles Frantes, Editor, and John Stautner, Founder, TexasGOPVote.com.
Norman E. Adams passed away Saturday, August 8, 2026, in his sleep, with family at his side.
Norman was one of the greatest political orators the world has ever seen. He had an extraordinary ability to say more in a few words than most politicians could say in a 30-minute speech.
He would appreciate if we followed one of the first lessons he taught us: Say what needs to be said, say it clearly, and don't waste people's time with unnecessary words. So, in Norman's honor, we’ll try to do just that.
We were fortunate to know the late Norman Adams as a friend, mentor, political colleague, and trusted advisor.
Norman was incredibly intelligent. He was brave. He was a leader. And importantly, he was a man of conviction.
He taught us that doing what is right and doing what is popular are not always the same thing. He taught us to think independently. And he taught that leadership requires courage.
Norman didn't just teach those things. He lived them.
He wasn't afraid to speak his mind, even when he knew the room might disagree with him. And actually, knowing Norman, sometimes we think that might have made him a little more excited to speak.
Norman was never afraid of a good conversation, or a spirited debate. And some of the best ones could be had over a Tito's and Sprite, or a Tito's and Diet Coke in his office. We were fortunate enough to have some of those conversations with him, and they are memories we will always treasure.
Because when you sat down with Norman, you learned something. Sometimes about politics. Sometimes about business. Sometimes about life. And sometimes, you learned that Norman had already decided something, and your role in the conversation was simply to figure out how long it would take you to realize he was right.
But beneath Norman's intellect, his humor, his strong opinions, and his fearlessness, was something much deeper. He loved God, his family, his church, his clients, and he loved Texas and the United States of America. Those weren't just things Norman talked about. They guided the way he lived.
His faith guided the way he saw the world. His family gave him something greater than himself to live for. His clients weren't simply business relationships; Norman genuinely cared about the people whose livelihoods depended on the businesses he served and their best interests. His church, Our Savior Lutheran, was a community he loved and served. And his patriotism wasn't an abstract idea. Norman believed deeply in this country, it’s constitution, the opportunities it gives people, and our responsibility to leave it better for the generations that follow us. That's why Norman was willing to fight for things he believed in.
One of those causes was sensible immigration policy. As a cofounder of Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy, Norman spent years working on an issue that was difficult, controversial and often thankless. He did it because he knew there was a better way.
He believed we could respect the rule of law, strengthen our economy, help American businesses and workers, treat human beings with dignity, and remain faithful to the biblical principles that guided his life. He advocated tirelessly for a legislative solution to create a method for long-time unauthorized immigrants who could pass background checks to earn work permits, and to require them to work for employers who deduct and match taxes, so the government could ID and Tax them properly.
And when Norman believed something was right, he didn't wait around for everyone else to agree with him. He got to work. He wrote, emailed, spoke, organized, persuaded, and challenged people. And importantly, he kept showing up.
Norman fought tirelessly for his values and policies, often against fierce opposition. However, he always treated everyone, even his opponents, with dignity and respect. He never held a grudge.
He was a staunch conservative Republican, but he had no problem disagreeing with Republican lawmakers and delegates and offering them constructive criticism when he believed they were failing at something, even if it meant he would be spit on (literally). He earned the nickname in political circles of “Stormin’ Norman” for his tenacity and lack of fear in addressing controversial topics.
That was Norman. He took the world by storm.
There are plenty of people who can be courageous for five minutes. Norman had the much rarer kind of courage: the courage to keep working for something year after year because he believed it was right.
That's one reason he had such an impact. He taught that leadership isn't following the crowd. Leadership is thinking for yourself, determining what you believe is right, and then having enough courage to stand up and say it. Even, and especially when, people disagree with you.
But Norman also understood something that can be easy to forget when we become consumed by business, politics, and all the problems we're trying to solve; He understood that we have a lot to be grateful for.
One of Norman's final pieces of writing followed the results of 2020 elections and was titled: “Stay Positive And If You Can Pay Your Bills, Be Grateful!” That sounds like Norman. Practical, direct, and looking for the positive side of things.
Perhaps there's something in that message for all of us today. Because today, naturally, we are thinking about what we've lost. We've lost Norman's voice, counsel, friendship, and humor. And we’ve lost the opportunity to sit down with him one more time and hear what he thinks about whatever is going wrong in the world that day. It’s impossible not to miss that.
But he would also remind us to think about what we were blessed to have. We were blessed to know Norman Adams and receive his friendship, wisdom, humor, courage, advocacy, and advice. (Some of us probably got his advice whether we asked for it or not.) And we got his example. That example doesn't leave us today. Norman taught us to stand up for what is right, to think independently, and to lead with courage.
Those are lessons we intend to keep. And we pray all of us carry a little bit of Norman with us. Because we knew Norman, may we be braver, think more independently, stand for what is right, love our neighbors, and remain grateful for God's blessings.
And perhaps, every once in a while, may we remember to sit down with a friend, pour a little Tito's and Sprite—or Diet Coke—and try to solve the problems of the greatest nation in the world.
So Norman, thank you. Thank you for your friendship, counsel, contagious courage, and all the lessons you left behind.
We'll try to make you proud. And we'll try not to use too many words doing it.
God bless Norman Adams. God bless the Adams Family. And as Norman so often said,
“May God bless you, and may He continue to bless America.”
A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for Norman E. Adams will be held on Saturday, August 22nd at 2:00 PM at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5000 W. Tidwell Rd., Houston, Texas 77091. Immediately following the service, refreshments will be served and the family will be available for visitation in the cafeteria of Our Savior Lutheran School. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Forward Faithfully Building Fund of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
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