Harold Newton passed away peacefully this afternoon at 2:12 pm EST, June 10, 2009. He was surrounded by family while Elvis music was playing from the # 1 HITS double CDs. Over the past 10 days, he became less and less responsive, but over this time he would respond to certain key words. Elvis, Ted (his brother who was a Border Patrol Agent killed in the line of duty in 1967) and Border Patrol.
Harold was widely known as an Elvis photographer, capturing him in dozens of concerts from 1975 - 1977. But he was also well known by members of the U.S. Border Patrol. Since his brother's tragic death in 1967, he has been a devoted advocate for the Border Patrol and its' Agents. He continuously sought for improvements to the Border Patrol so future Agents would be better protected.
During his time in the hospital and at the Hospice House, a few of his favorite photos of Elvis were displayed in his room so that he would have pleasant memories to reflect on. One of his nurses at the hospital was a huge Elvis fan and wanted to know all about the photos. Thomas told her who Harold was and about his Elvis photography and she became an instant friend! Thomas returned the following day with some of Harold's beautiful 8x10 prints and gave them to the nurse. She was very excited about the photos and talked to him, wanting him to wake up and tell her all about them. When he was being moved from the hospital to the Hospice House, she asked if she could kiss him goodbye and to thank him again for the wonderful photos. When she kissed his forehead, his eyes opened for the first time in several days and he had a little grin on his face. He was a little more responsive that day than he had been or would be for the remaining days he had left. It is a sweet memory to have of him; his Elvis photographs still pleasing the fans and realizing the pride he had in knowing his photography of Elvis meant so much to so many.
No funeral plans have been made at this time, but he is to be laid to rest in his Family plot in Tacoma, WA. Cards and condolences can be sent to his Family in care of:
Thomas Harvey
P.O. Box 2093
Kirkland, WA 98083
USA
Original update Jul 9, 2009
Harold Newton, photographer of many Elvis Presley concerts, has been admitted to a Hospice House near his home in South Carolina. He is not expected to make it through the next 24 hours. Recently, he was diagnosed with Stage 4, non-small cell lung cancer.
He is well known in the Elvis World for the numerous concert photos he shot of Elvis in the 70's. During Elvis Week, he would sell his prints at the Memorabilia Convention and was always proud to talk to anyone about his experiences of seeing Elvis in concert and taking the amazing photos that he shot.