Lives of Great men remind us,
We Can Make Our Lives Sublime,
And Departing Leave Behind Us,
Footprints On The Sands Of Time. (by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
A great Oak has fallen. Indeed a strong pillar of Council No. 48 of the Noble Order of the Knights of Marshall and the whole Noble Order has crumbled. The Noble Order has been violently shaken to its foundations.
Tony as his close friends call him was initiated into the Noble Order on the 30th April 1977, in Council No. 10. Two Years later, in 1979, he successfully completed the prescribed courses of study to obtain his Lower Degree Certificate and a year later, in 1980, completed his Mystic psychology Course. While studying for his Lower Degree, he was appointed the Assistant Secretary for the Council for the years 1978 to 1979. He was later promoted the substantive Secretary and served in this position from 1979 to 1980.
Still in Council 10, Sir Kt. Tony Norvor and other like-minded brothers believed the time was ripe for the creation of another council in Accra and advocated very strongly for it. This led to the creation of the Accra West Marshallan Association to serve as the precursor to the formation of the Council No 48 of the Noble Order. He was elected President of the Association in November 1982 and served to November 1984.
After the formation of Council No 48 in 1986, Sir Kt. Norvor was elected Deputy Grand Knight in 1988 and subsequently installed the 4th Grand Knight in 1989.
The Junior Order 23J was consecrated during his time of office as Grand Knight and for so many years, he was an Organizer of the Junior Council and Court.
As a Solicitor and Advocate by profession, Sir Kt. Anthony Norvor was instrumental in our acquisition of the old Church building at the Holy Family Parish, Mataheko for use as our Temple. All the documents pertaining to the acquisition were drafted by him and he signed on behalf of Council. As 6th Degree Lecturer he groomed most of the current Lecturers of Council and other Brothers.
Sir Kt. Bro Norvor was not only one of the founding members of council No 48, but was also one of the stalwarts who worked day and night to make sure that the new infant council, which many did not believe at the time, would survive, did and has grown to become one of the most powerful Councils of the Noble order. Indeed, as we bid our brother farewell today, it is pertinent to note that Council No 48 which he and others nurtured has been adjudged the best Council of the Noble Order for the past 2 consecutive years.
After serving so meritoriously and rising to become a past Grand Advisor of Council No 48, he was appointed the Regional Advocate to the erstwhile Greater- Accra Regional Council in 1991 for a 2-year tenure.
On the 4th of December 1993, Sir Kt. Norvor was appointed to the Supreme Council of the Noble Order’s Standing Committee and made the Deputy Supreme Advocate and later became the Supreme Advocate.
Sir Kt. discharged all his duties with zeal and distinction and was ready to be of service to his colleagues at all times. This is a Brother who loved the Noble Order to the maximum. He was a man of many parts, a strong advocate who would stand resolutely for his convictions, but in humility. He was a mentor to a good number of us and already we miss his wit and wisdom.
May the Good Lord grant him eternal rest. Tony Hedenyuie, Dzudzor le nutifafame. Rest in Perfect Peace. Amen