Lee Remmel, a man associated with the Green Bay Packers since the Curly Lambeau era, passed away April 16. He was 90.
He had retired Dec. 31, 2007, celebrating a 62-year relationship with the storied franchise.
"The Packers lost a cherished family member today," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "Lee was a key member of the organization for many years and his knowledge of Packers history was unparalleled. He was a great ambassador and through his public relations work, he helped multiple generations of Packers fans learn more about the team. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family."
A member of the Packers' front office since 1974, Remmel led the organization's public relations and publicity efforts until 2004, when he became the Packers' team historian, an honor bestowed upon him by then-Packers CEO Bob Harlan. Prior to joining the team's front office, Remmel was a sportswriter and columnist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette for 29½ years, covering his first Packers game in 1945 in Milwaukee.
In the course of his two "careers," Remmel was involved in the staffing of the first 40 Super Bowls, the first eight representing the Press-Gazette, the next 22 as a member of the National Football League's auxiliary media relations staff, the 1996-97 seasons with the Packers' front office and again the next eight years with the NFL. During the week leading up to Super Bowl XL, Remmel was recognized as one of 12 media contributors (print, photography, public relations) who had worked the first 40 Super Bowls; he was the lone representative in the public relations category.
Remmel also was a member of the NFL public relations directors' Professional Football Writers of America liaison, statistics and NFL Films committees.
Lee Remmel, a man associated with the Green Bay Packers since the Curly Lambeau era, passed away April 16, 2015. He was 90.
While at the Press-Gazette, he was the only sportswriter in Wisconsin to have been directly involved in coverage of the Packers throughout all of the team's coaching regimes to that point, beginning with Packers founder E.L. 'Curly' Lambeau and continuing until the naming of Bart Starr. He witnessed his 100th Packers-Bears game on Nov. 12, 1995, in the 150th regular-season meeting of the arch enemies, and had attended 125 overall.
Remmel's better than half-century of close association with the Packers was duly recognized on March 30, 1996, when he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. An additional honor was bestowed upon him in August 2003 when the Packers' press box at the redeveloped Lambeau Field was named, "The Lee Remmel Press Box."
In 1967, he was voted Wisconsin 'Sports Writer of the Year,' and also served as president of the former Wisconsin Pro Football Writers' Association. Remmel, born in Shawano, Wis., June 30, 1924, began his career as the sports editor of a weekly newspaper while a Shawano High School freshman.
He was an active member of the community, with the annual Lee Remmel Sports Awards Banquet, honoring Wisconsin professional, collegiate, amateur and prep athletes, having been held since 1998; it has raised approximately $225,000 for scholarship funds at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, St. Norbert College and area high schools.
His wife, Noreen, had passed away April 27, 2012. The two had celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary Aug. 21, 2009.
He and his wife also served as honorary co-chairs of the annual Brown County Humane Society's 'Fur Ball' in 2000, 2001 and 2004, and were members of the executive committee of the Brown County Civic Music Association. Lee also served on the executive board of the 65 Roses Sports Club (cystic fibrosis) and the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Inc.
The family has a private service planned.
