Norman Hedgepeth

Norman Hedgepeth, age 89, of Grants Pass, died October 29, 2024 at his home.

Norm was born March 22, 1935 in Grants Pass to Donald & Audrey (Davidson) Hedgepeth. A 4th generation Oregonian, he was the great-grandson of Elijah Davidson, who discovered the Oregon Caves. He grew up in Grants Pass and was a standout athlete at Grants Pass High School. He was a member of the 1951 state champion football team; earned all-state football honors as a senior and was all-conference for three years. He also lettered four years in baseball and two years in basketball, and was all-conference his senior year. 

After graduating high school in 1953, he attended several colleges including Oregon State, College of Idaho, Portland State, Michigan State, and SOSC (now Southern Oregon University) from which he earned an Associates Degree in Criminology. Norm was proud to have served in the United States Army for 2 years where he was stationed in Germany with the 22nd Infantry, serving alongside his elder brother, Don. Competitive athletes, both were starters on the Army Base football team, with Norm at end and Don at tackle.

After returning to Grants Pass, Norm served as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Josephine County, and then as a Police Officer for the City of Grants Pass. He graduated from the FBI academy under J. Edgar Hoover, and was appointed Police Chief in 1970. In 1984 the Grants Pass Fire & Police Departments merged and he became the first Public Safety Director, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. He served 26 years in law enforcement. He also taught law enforcement classes at Rogue Community College for two years. Norm was recently recognized as a 25+ year veteran in a private ceremony by the current Grants Pass Police Chief, with family members in attendance. He was a member of the GP Active club for many years, as well as rotary and other service organizations. An avid golfer, Norm was a long-time member of the GP Golf Course.

Norm is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Sharon Roberts Hedgepeth; daughters Cynthia Hedgepeth and Susan Tokarz-Krauss (David Krauss) and; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two sisters Shirley Landauer and Dorothy Dolmage. His son, Rod V. Hedgepeth, and brothers, Don Hedgepeth and Jack Lutz, predeceased him.

No Services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the NW Boxer Rescue Northwest Boxer Rescue | Every Boxer Deserves A Chance, or the Josephine County Animal Shelter.

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