Lee Royer

Lee Royer
Biographical details
Bornc. 1934
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died(1973-12-20)December 20, 1973 (aged 39)
near Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama, U.S.
Playing career
1953–1956West Chester
PositionsFullback, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1959Chester HS (PA) (assistant)
1960–1961Pennsylvania Military (line)
1962–1963Pennsylvania Military
1964Connecticut (assistant)
1965–1966Boston College (DB/LB)
1967VPI (DB)
1968–1970Maryland (DB)
1971–1972Navy (assistant)
1973Lynchburg 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. He also was a noted Baptist evangelist and was known in collegiate football circles as "Coach Born Again".

Coaching career

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. He also served as an assistant coach at Maryland and he spent two seasons early in his career as head coach at Pennsylvania Military College, now called Widener University.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Pennsylvania Military Cadets (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1962–1963)
1962 Pennsylvania Military 5–55–45th (Southern College)
1963 Pennsylvania Military 3–63–57th (Southern College)
Widener: 8–118–9
Lynchburg Baptist Flames (NAIA independent) (1973)
1973 Lynchburg Baptist 3–3
Lynchburg Baptist: 3–3
Total:11–14

References

  1. ↑ "H. Lee Royer, Football Coach, 39". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 27, 1973. p. 37. Retrieved June 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Wendell Kempton Obituary mentioning Royer's widow". Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "Liberty Coaching History" (PDF). Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  6. ↑ "The M Club History Records". Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  7. ↑ "2006 Widener College Football Media Guide, p. 44" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2008.