By Matt Malone

mmalone@dailyadvertis er.com.au

HARNESS racing has lost one its greatest administrators and a true gentleman with the passing of Leeton's Norm Johnson.

Johnson passed away on Tuesday at the age of 61 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour last October.

He was survived by wife Marlene and children Michelle, Nicole and Anthony.

Johnson was one of the most respected officials in the sport and was the current president of both the Leeton Harness Racing Club and the South West and Riverina district.

Race caller and close friend for 50 years Allan Wallett said it was sad to lose Johnson at such a young age.

"Norm had harness racing at heart and lived for the Leeton Harness Racing Club," Wallett said.

"He did a hell of a lot of work for the Leeton club and was very, very well respected by his peers in Sydney.

"He will be sadly missed by everyone in harness racing."

A minute's silence will be held prior to the first race at Wagga's TAB meeting today while drivers will wear black armbands.

Johnson was the trainer of talented four-year-old Decndice, who will start at Wagga today in the Thomas Blamey Tavern Pace and be driven by his son-in-law Malcolm Diebert.

Johnson grew up involved in harness racing and trained many top horses in his time including the likes of Dylan, Chipacloud, Dakarta, Goldtalk and Decndice, all of whom won at Harold Park.

Johnson would begin training these horses before sending them to Sydney with Merv Adams, or in later years, Jimmy Bennett.

Johnson had only recently sold his rice farm outside of Leeton and moved to a 100 acre property at Yanco, where he had built a state-of-the-art harness racing training facility.

The funeral service will be held on Monday at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Leeton, beginning at 1.30pm.

Johnson had been involved with the Leeton Harness Racing Club as an official for over 30 years.