Bob Noel

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

Career In 1951, Noel joined the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) as a part-time equipment assistant. 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. He officially held the position of "assistant equipment manager". 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.

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". 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. He remained with the Packers until being abruptly fired by general manager Ron Wolf in January 1994.

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". 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".

Personal life Noel married Evelyn Zacher on November 30, 1957.