The Green Bay Packers’ family lost a legend this week. He never played a down, or coached a game, but he was associated with the team for an amazing 62 years, a few more years than I’ve been on this earth.
Leland (Lee) J. Remmel passed away this week at the age of 92.
He covered his first game as a report for the Green Bay Press Gazette in 1945. Curley Lambeau was the teams’ coach, Don Hutson was in his 9th and final season with the Packers. (side note: for the last six years of Hutson’s career, he was the Packers kicker and also played safety, hauling in 30 interceptions. Hard to argue with Remmel’s assertion that Hutson was the greatest Packers player of all time.)
Remmel would go on to cover the Packers for 29 years before being asked by then Coach/GM Dan Devine if he would like to become their public relations director. Remmel has often told the story that it almost didn;t happen because the Packers were being so cheap. Remmel’s argument was, “I already have a good job,” and eventually Devine forked over some more money.
Remmel would continue as the Packers Public Relations Director/Spokesman for almost 30 years. In 2004, Remmel was named the first historian for the Green Bay Packers, a position he manned until he retired in 2007.
There have been multiple tributes to Remmel written this week by people who knew the man. You’ll find some of the links below.
There is no way I could possibly write a more personal tribute, but I can say this; things feel very different to me this week with Remmel gone – perhaps that’s tribute enough.
Packers News, Notes and Links
- A year ago, current Packers Historian Cliff Christl provided snippets of Remmel on a variety of topics and stories:
- Packer Report’s W. Keith Roerdink reminisces on his time as an intern with the Packers working under Lee Remmel.
- Another Packers legend, Bart Starr, is have a slow and difficult recovery from two strokes and a heart attack incurred all withing the same week. The Green Bay Press Gazette’s Wes Hodkiewicz spoke with Jerry Kramer about Bart.
- Ross Uglem entertains us with an interesting Packers Mock Draft over at our sister site, PackersTalk.com
- Mark Murphy says Packers are awaiting announcement of the 2015 schedule and will quickly pick a game to honor Brett Favre.
- If you love the Packers AND the NFL Draft, here’s something you’ll want to have in your possession. Every year, CheeseheadTV puts out an NFL Draft Guide geared to the Packers’ needs, wants, scheme fits, etc. Some of the top writers from various Packers sites participate, in addition to yours truly. You, can get it at the bargain price of $8.99. Please support our efforts and order your copy here.
Non Packers links and other Nonsense
- Yesterday was National Record Store Day. If you still buy music in non-digital form (I’ve recently returned to buying vinyl LPs, myself), support your local record dealer all year ’round.
- Evidently, there’s a new Star Wars movie coming out in time for Christmas. Personally, I’m not that interested, but for you SWGEEKS out there, here’s trailer #1 and trailer #2.
- I have a list of great rock bands I haven’t seen live in concert and have been working on rectifying that (it’s not a long list – I’ve seen A LOT of concerts). One band that I had managed to miss was Van Halen. They recently announced a tour and are coming to one of my favorite summer outdoor venues here in NJ, so I was ready to buy tickets and then I saw this. Oy vey Dave – you’re horrible! That box will go unchecked. It’s pretty ironic that the alcoholic Eddie V. seems to be the one guy in the band that has aged gracefully.
- There’s a Duck Dynasty Musical in Las Vegas? Really? Yes, really.
- This Wednesday is Earth Day – had no idea it started way back in 1970.
- If you’re over a certain age (let’s say 35) and feel no one is making good new music anymore, check this new band from the UK. The Sundowners:
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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Yes, Diamond Dave has completely lost his ability to sing….save your cash, go buy a six pack of your favorite beer, play the Fair Warning album at your home really loud and call it a night. GoPack!
That might have been the height of DD’s singing voice. Unchained… one of my favorites…
Everyday after school the first song I played as I ripped out of the parking lot and lit up a cigarette was Unchained. Loved that beginning guitar by Eddie. I also love Girl Gone Bad. A song that they just went crazy on but never got the attention it deserved.
As for the band, hey, they are old. Nobody can go back. Remember them for how they used to be or admire them for still being able to get up there and play. Robert Plant looks like Edward Longshanks. The Rolling Stones must be in their 80’s.
There’s only one person I would really pay to see even at his old age and that would be the King himself Elvis Presley. Man, I hope the rumors are true and he’s still alive.
Ted
The Stones will be in Indianapolis July 4. Saw them at Rupp Arena in ’81 and Louisville in ’89. Mick still rocks.
True Van Taken story: After the release of Van Halen – Van Halen, the band was opening for Black Sabbath on a Thursday night at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. VH rocked out, then we waited 45 minutes for BS. Finally a guy takes the stage saying a band member was sick and the show was over. A riot ensued. Ended up Ozzie had fallen asleep in the wrong room. The great thing was our tickets were honored for a Sunday make up performance where VH played again, blowing BS off the stage.
Van Halen was alright. Thanks though for The Sundowners. A little before my time, but I have older siblings. I went on You Tube and took a nice walk down memory lane.