Lee Royer
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1934 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | December 20, 1973 (aged 39) near Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1953–1956 | West Chester |
| Position(s) | Fullback, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1959 | Chester HS (PA) (assistant) |
| 1960–1961 | Pennsylvania Military (line) |
| 1962–1963 | Pennsylvania Military |
| 1964 | Connecticut (assistant) |
| 1965–1966 | Boston College (DB/LB) |
| 1967 | VPI (DB) |
| 1968–1970 | Maryland (DB) |
| 1971–1972 | Navy (assistant) |
| 1973 | Lynchburg Baptist |
Harold Lee "Rock" Royer (c. 1934 – November 20, 1973) was an American football coach best known for his role as the father of Liberty University football. He was the school's first ever head coach before dying in a plane crash while caught up in tornadic winds in his Cherokee 6 on November 20, 1973.[1][2] He also was a noted Baptist evangelist[3] and was known in collegiate football circles as "Coach Born Again".[4]
Coaching career
[edit]Royer left the United States Naval Academy, where he had served as defensive coordinator, to start up the football program at Lynchburg Baptist College, now called Liberty University. He served as the school's first head coach leading the Flames to a 3–3 record including three straight victories to end the inaugural season.[5] He also served as an assistant coach at Maryland[6] and he spent two seasons early in his career as head coach at Pennsylvania Military College, now called Widener University.[7]
Head coaching record
[edit]| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Military Cadets (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1962–1963) | |||||||||
| 1962 | Pennsylvania Military | 5–5 | 5–4 | 5th (Southern College) | |||||
| 1963 | Pennsylvania Military | 3–6 | 3–5 | 7th (Southern College) | |||||
| Widener: | 8–11 | 8–9 | |||||||
| Lynchburg Baptist Flames (NAIA independent) (1973) | |||||||||
| 1973 | Lynchburg Baptist | 3–3 | |||||||
| Lynchburg Baptist: | 3–3 | ||||||||
| Total: | 11–14 | ||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "H. Lee Royer, Football Coach, 39". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 27, 1973. p. 37. Retrieved June 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ "Bio by Ken Hay in The Wilds Newsletter, Fall 2007, p. 6" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
- ^ "Dr. Wendell Kempton Obituary mentioning Royer's widow". Retrieved March 2, 2008.
- ^ "Dr. Don Callan on Royer in The Sting, Winter 2004, Vol. 21, No. 8, P. 2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
- ^ "Liberty Coaching History" (PDF). Retrieved March 2, 2008.
- ^ "The M Club History Records". Retrieved March 2, 2008.
- ^ "2006 Widener College Football Media Guide, p. 44" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
External links
[edit]- 1930s births
- 1973 deaths
- American evangelists
- American football fullbacks
- American football linebackers
- Boston College Eagles football coaches
- Liberty Flames football coaches
- Maryland Terrapins football coaches
- Navy Midshipmen football coaches
- UConn Huskies football coaches
- Virginia Tech Hokies football coaches
- West Chester Golden Rams football coaches
- Widener Pride football coaches
- High school football coaches in Pennsylvania
- People from Ridley Township, Pennsylvania
- Players of American football from Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- Players of American football from Baltimore
- Coaches of American football from Pennsylvania
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1973
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States