Hall of Fame
Norman Punch, a 1958 graduate of L-R, was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the Bears' football team from 1954-57.  Punch helped lead Lenoir-Rhyne to unbeaten seasons in 1955 (9-0-1) and 1956 (10-0) as a back.  Punch was an All-North State Conference and All-District 26 selection and earned the Lee Kirby Memorial Award in 1957.  Punch, who also lettered in track (1955-57), earned his master's of education degree from the University of North Carolina in 1960.  Punch coached one season at Thomasville High School (1958) before returning to L-R as an assistant football and head track coach from 1959-1965.  He was part of the 1960 National Championship team and his track squads won three consecutive conference and district championships (1962-64).  Punch worked in textiles for seven years before entering the furniture business.  He recently held the position of Purchasing and Personnel Director at J. Royale Furniture (Hickory) for eight years before retiring  in December of 2001.  Punch and his wife, Vernice, have one son (Norman) and a daughter (Carol).
