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==Career==
==Career==
In 1951, Noel joined the [[Green Bay Packers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) as a part-time equipment assistant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/the-post-crescent/145990257/|newspaper=[[The Post-Crescent]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 20, 1994|page=26|title=Equipment manager fired|author=Raboin, Sharon; Havel, Chris}} {{Open access}}</ref> After 16 years in that role, he was hired as a full-time equipment employee by [[Vince Lombardi]] in 1967, being the first full-time employee in the team's equipment department.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2023/hall-of-fame-announces-17-recipients-of-second-annual-%E2%80%98awards-of-excellence%E2%80%99/|publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]|title=Hall of Fame announces 17 recipients of 'Awards of Excellence'|date=March 22, 2023}}</ref> He officially held the position of "assistant [[equipment manager]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/wausau-daily-herald/145990858/|newspaper=[[Wausau Daily Herald]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=December 3, 1971|page=10|title=Everything happens to Packers|agency=[[Associated Press]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He worked under [[G. E. "Dad" Braisher]] before succeeding him as head equipment manager in 1977, being the fourth person in team history to hold the position.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto3">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/green-bay-press-gazette/145991018/|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 20, 1994|page=15|title=Noel: 'I've cried more than one time'|author=Raboin, Sharon}} {{Open access}}</ref>
In 1951, Noel joined the [[Green Bay Packers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) as a part-time equipment assistant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/the-post-crescent/145990257/|newspaper=[[The Post-Crescent]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 20, 1994|page=26|title=Equipment manager fired|author=Raboin, Sharon; Havel, Chris}} {{Open access}}</ref> After 16 years in that role, he was hired as a full-time equipment employee by [[Vince Lombardi]] in 1967, being the first full-time employee in the team's equipment department.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2023/hall-of-fame-announces-17-recipients-of-second-annual-%E2%80%98awards-of-excellence%E2%80%99/|publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]|title=Hall of Fame announces 17 recipients of 'Awards of Excellence'|date=March 22, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2024}}</ref> He officially held the position of "assistant [[equipment manager]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/wausau-daily-herald/145990858/|newspaper=[[Wausau Daily Herald]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=December 3, 1971|page=10|title=Everything happens to Packers|agency=[[Associated Press]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He worked under [[G. E. "Dad" Braisher]] before succeeding him as head equipment manager in 1977, being the fourth person in team history to hold the position.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto3">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/green-bay-press-gazette/145991018/|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 20, 1994|page=15|title=Noel: 'I've cried more than one time'|author=Raboin, Sharon}} {{Open access}}</ref>


In his position, Noel was in charge of all of the team and player equipment, with tasks ranging from keeping track of the uniforms to packing them up after each game and dealing "with all the dirty laundry".<ref name="auto5">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/wisconsin-state-journal/145997451/|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=August 12, 1989|page=7, [https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/wisconsin-state-journal/145997524/ 8]|title=Noel keeps Packers dressed for success|author=Aehl, John}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/green-bay-press-gazette/145997602/|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 18, 1977|page=126|title=Packing and Then Unpacking Noel's Bag|author=O'Brien, Dale}} {{Open access}}</ref> In addition to working with the uniforms of the players, Noel was also responsible for field and game equipment, the team [[Gatorade]] supply, and a "lot of smaller things" needed for each game; the ''[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]'' noted among them: "Tape, headsets, rosin bags, telephone sets, extra t-shirts, and a stretcher have to be taken," as well as 30 game balls.<ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto2"/> In-season, he worked seven days a week, starting at 7 a.m. and working until 9 p.m., often working later than that as well.<ref name="auto5"/> An article from the ''[[Wisconsin State Journal]]'' noted, "A blunt, no-nonsense man who is very possessive of even the most mundane and inexpensive piece of equipment, Noel is the ideal equipment manager. He is a stickler for itemizing everything."<ref name="auto5"/>
In his position, Noel was in charge of all of the team and player equipment, with tasks ranging from keeping track of the uniforms to packing them up after each game and dealing "with all the dirty laundry".<ref name="auto5">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/wisconsin-state-journal/145997451/|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=August 12, 1989|page=7, [https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/wisconsin-state-journal/145997524/ 8]|title=Noel keeps Packers dressed for success|author=Aehl, John}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/green-bay-press-gazette/145997602/|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 18, 1977|page=126|title=Packing and Then Unpacking Noel's Bag|author=O'Brien, Dale}} {{Open access}}</ref> In addition to working with the uniforms of the players, Noel was also responsible for field and game equipment, the team [[Gatorade]] supply, and a "lot of smaller things" needed for each game; the ''[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]'' noted among them: "Tape, headsets, rosin bags, telephone sets, extra t-shirts, and a stretcher have to be taken," as well as 30 game balls.<ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto2"/> In-season, he worked seven days a week, starting at 7 a.m. and working until 9 p.m., often working later than that as well.<ref name="auto5"/> An article from the ''[[Wisconsin State Journal]]'' noted, "A blunt, no-nonsense man who is very possessive of even the most mundane and inexpensive piece of equipment, Noel is the ideal equipment manager. He is a stickler for itemizing everything."<ref name="auto5"/>


Noel ultimately served with the Packers for 43 years – from 1951 to 1993.<ref name="auto1"/> Starting under [[Gene Ronzani]], he worked for a total of 11 head coaches and worked with 19 of the 28 Packers inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], being a member of five league championship teams.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|title=Green Bay Packers}}</ref> He remained with the Packers until being abruptly fired by general manager [[Ron Wolf]] in January 1994.<ref name="auto3"/> The reason given was for the locker room not being clean; Noel said that he was "shocked – I've cried more than one time. I put my heart and soul into this thing. I don't know what in the hell I could've done more."<ref name="auto3"/> He said that a lawyer told him he had a "heck of a case" against the Packers, but Noel said that he had "too much love" for the team to take legal action against them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/marshfield-news-herald/145999503/|newspaper=[[Marshfield News-Herald]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 20, 1994|page=11|title=Football}} {{Open access}}</ref>
Noel ultimately served with the Packers for 43 years – from 1951 to 1993.<ref name="auto1"/> Starting under [[Gene Ronzani]], he worked for a total of [[List of Green Bay Packers head coaches|11 head coaches]] and worked with 19 of the 28 Packers inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], being a member of five league championship teams.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|title=Green Bay Packers}}</ref> He remained with the Packers until being abruptly fired by general manager [[Ron Wolf]] in January 1994.<ref name="auto3"/> The reason given was for the locker room not being clean; Noel said that he was "shocked – I've cried more than one time. I put my heart and soul into this thing. I don't know what in the hell I could've done more".<ref name="auto3"/> He said that a lawyer told him he had a "heck of a case" against the Packers, but Noel said that he had "too much love" for the team to take legal action against them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/marshfield-news-herald/145999503/|newspaper=[[Marshfield News-Herald]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 20, 1994|page=11|title=Football}} {{Open access}}</ref>


Packers historian and executive [[Lee Remmel]] called Noel "a Packer legend in his own right. He served the team faithfully and well for a long time."<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/green-bay-press-gazette-noel-robert-ne/76220004/|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 6, 1999|page=19|title=Noel was 'a godsend' for Packers, Notre Dame|author=Schultz, Sean}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Bob Harlan]] said that: "I don't think there's any way to describe his value to the organization. You could come in here in February or March, or all day Sundays, and Bob was here working. He was very popular with the players. He was the perfect person for what he was doing."<ref name="auto"/>
Packers historian and executive [[Lee Remmel]] called Noel "a Packer legend in his own right. He served the team faithfully and well for a long time".<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/article/green-bay-press-gazette-noel-robert-ne/76220004/|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=January 6, 1999|page=19|title=Noel was 'a godsend' for Packers, Notre Dame|author=Schultz, Sean}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Bob Harlan]] said that: "I don't think there's any way to describe his value to the organization. You could come in here in February or March, or all day Sundays, and Bob was here working. He was very popular with the players. He was the perfect person for what he was doing."<ref name="auto"/>


Noel posthumously received the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Award of Excellence in 2023, which recognizes "significant contributors to the game of professional football".<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.packers.com/news/three-former-packers-staff-members-among-pro-football-hof-award-winners-for-2023|publisher=[[Green Bay Packers]]|title=Three former Packers staff members among Pro Football Hall of Fame's Awards of Excellence winners for 2023 |date=March 22, 2023|author=Spofford, Mike}}</ref>
Noel posthumously received the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Award of Excellence in 2023, which recognizes "significant contributors to the game of professional football".<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.packers.com/news/three-former-packers-staff-members-among-pro-football-hof-award-winners-for-2023|publisher=[[Green Bay Packers]]|title=Three former Packers staff members among Pro Football Hall of Fame's Awards of Excellence winners for 2023 |date=March 22, 2023|author=Spofford, Mike|access-date=April 26, 2024}}</ref>


==Personal life and death==
==Personal life and death==

Revision as of 18:01, 26 April 2024

Bob Noel
Born(1925-05-25)May 25, 1925
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 1999(1999-01-02) (aged 73)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
OccupationEquipment manager
Years active1951–1998
Known forEquipment manager, Green Bay Packers

Robert J. Noel (May 25, 1925 – January 2, 1999) was an American equipment manager who worked for the Green Bay Packers from 1951 to 1993. He was the head equipment manager of the team from 1977 to 1993 and posthumously received the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Award of Excellence in 2023, recognizing "significant contributors to the game of professional football".

Early life

Noel was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on May 25, 1925.[1] He had a twin sister and five other siblings.[1][2] Noel attended Central Catholic High School in Wisconsin; while still in high school, he enlisted in World War II at the age of 18.[3] He played football as an end while at Central.[4]

Career

In 1951, Noel joined the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) as a part-time equipment assistant.[5] After 16 years in that role, he was hired as a full-time equipment employee by Vince Lombardi in 1967, being the first full-time employee in the team's equipment department.[1][6] He officially held the position of "assistant equipment manager".[7] He worked under G. E. "Dad" Braisher before succeeding him as head equipment manager in 1977, being the fourth person in team history to hold the position.[6][8]

In his position, Noel was in charge of all of the team and player equipment, with tasks ranging from keeping track of the uniforms to packing them up after each game and dealing "with all the dirty laundry".[9][10] In addition to working with the uniforms of the players, Noel was also responsible for field and game equipment, the team Gatorade supply, and a "lot of smaller things" needed for each game; the Green Bay Press-Gazette noted among them: "Tape, headsets, rosin bags, telephone sets, extra t-shirts, and a stretcher have to be taken," as well as 30 game balls.[9][10] In-season, he worked seven days a week, starting at 7 a.m. and working until 9 p.m., often working later than that as well.[9] An article from the Wisconsin State Journal noted, "A blunt, no-nonsense man who is very possessive of even the most mundane and inexpensive piece of equipment, Noel is the ideal equipment manager. He is a stickler for itemizing everything."[9]

Noel ultimately served with the Packers for 43 years – from 1951 to 1993.[6] Starting under Gene Ronzani, he worked for a total of 11 head coaches and worked with 19 of the 28 Packers inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, being a member of five league championship teams.[6][10][11] He remained with the Packers until being abruptly fired by general manager Ron Wolf in January 1994.[8] The reason given was for the locker room not being clean; Noel said that he was "shocked – I've cried more than one time. I put my heart and soul into this thing. I don't know what in the hell I could've done more".[8] He said that a lawyer told him he had a "heck of a case" against the Packers, but Noel said that he had "too much love" for the team to take legal action against them.[12]

Packers historian and executive Lee Remmel called Noel "a Packer legend in his own right. He served the team faithfully and well for a long time".[13] Bob Harlan said that: "I don't think there's any way to describe his value to the organization. You could come in here in February or March, or all day Sundays, and Bob was here working. He was very popular with the players. He was the perfect person for what he was doing."[13]

Noel posthumously received the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Award of Excellence in 2023, which recognizes "significant contributors to the game of professional football".[6][14]

Personal life and death

Noel married Evelyn Zacher on November 30, 1957.[1] He was a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association and was active in local organizations.[1] He sung in choirs, volunteered in several charitable groups and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.[1] He attended Packers games even after his tenure with the team ended and volunteered as equipment manager for Green Bay's Notre Dame Academy in August 1995, where he served until his death.[13]

Noel died on January 2, 1999, at the age of 73.[13] Former Packers player Dale Livingston said of Noel: "Bob always had a warm greeting for the players and was well liked by all. He treated rookies as well as the All-Pros the same. When Bob left the Packers, he continued to do work in the community he loved. Bob was always there to help if anyone needed anything. I am proud to have known Bob and I am sure I speak for many others when I say he will be missed."[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Robert J. "Bob" Neal". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 5, 1999. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "Noel, John H. "Jack"". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 7, 2007. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 (subscription required). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  4. ^ "Central Faces Greatest Test". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 24, 1942. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Raboin, Sharon; Havel, Chris (January 20, 1994). "Equipment manager fired". The Post-Crescent. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Open access icon
  6. ^ a b c d e "Hall of Fame announces 17 recipients of 'Awards of Excellence'". Pro Football Hall of Fame. March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Everything happens to Packers". Wausau Daily Herald. Associated Press. December 3, 1971. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ a b c Raboin, Sharon (January 20, 1994). "Noel: 'I've cried more than one time'". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ a b c d Aehl, John (August 12, 1989). "Noel keeps Packers dressed for success". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 7, 8 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ a b c O'Brien, Dale (September 18, 1977). "Packing and Then Unpacking Noel's Bag". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 126 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ "Green Bay Packers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "Football". Marshfield News-Herald. January 20, 1994. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ a b c d Schultz, Sean (January 6, 1999). "Noel was 'a godsend' for Packers, Notre Dame". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ Spofford, Mike (March 22, 2023). "Three former Packers staff members among Pro Football Hall of Fame's Awards of Excellence winners for 2023". Green Bay Packers. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Livingston, Dale (January 12, 1999). "Bob Noel will be missed by Green Bay community". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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