Thanks to the Greeley Tribune’s Tyler Silvy for his solid profile of veteran Colorado politico Tom Norton, who is stepping down after four terms as Greeley mayor – and decades of high-profile public service. The Republican Norton, now 77, has been sort of a marathon man on Colorado’s political scene, having served as Senate president for six years in the 1990s and later as the state’s transportation chief under Republican Gov. Bill Owens, to whom Norton lost the GOP gubernatorial primary.

Silvy offers a lot more than just a thumbnail about the Lander, Wyoming, native who first came to Colorado on a wrestling scholarship at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. For one thing, there’s Norton’s admitted penchant for losing his cool and butting heads:

At city council meetings, he peppered staff with questions about road projects or any other topic. And, occasionally, the swagger of a man that once led the Colorado Senate pushed Norton over the edge. He drew statewide coverage for getting kicked out of a UNC basketball game when he argued with a referee.

He was lambasted this year for yelling at a fellow council member during a discussion of immigrants and refugees.

Norton is aware of the criticism, saying he goes over the line sometimes and has to apologize, even if he says some like his direct style. Any politician needs an ego, Norton said. But they also have to be able to manage it.

He’s also part of a power couple; wife Kay Norton is longtime president of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley – as well as the one who, Tom Norton says, reins him in when he needs it:

“I use Kay as my ego manager,” Norton said. “When I get a little ahead of myself, she can say – as she used to put it, ‘You’re a TIP, a temporarily important person; it will only last until the next election,’ ” Norton said.

An outgoing mayor with an outgoing personality. Read the full Tribune story for more insights into this enduring political figure. Here’s the link again.