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Philip Noel
Philip William Noel (born June 6, 1931) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 68th Governor of Rhode Island. He was elected in 1972, and re-elected in 1974.
Since the death of Edward D. DiPrete in 2025, he is the last surviving governor of Rhode Island to have served in the 20th century.
Philip Noel was born in Warwick, Rhode Island. His parents were Joe Noel, an auto mechanic, and Emma Crudeli Noel, a jewelry worker. He attended public schools in Warwick. He was a class president at Samuel Gorton High School, and was named to Rhode Island's All-State football team during his time there.
Noel took his first job at age 15, working as a commercial fisherman. Noel later accepted a football scholarship to Georgetown University. He transferred to Brown University when Georgetown dropped its football program. He received a degree in Economics from Brown in 1954, then returned to Georgetown University to study Law, with the goal of joining the FBI. While still in school, he obtained a job from Democratic Rhode Island Senator John O. Pastore in the Senate post office.
After receiving his J.D. degree, Noel began his professional career as a solo practitioner, with law offices in Providence and Warwick.
Noel married Joyce Anne Sandberg on October 20, 1956. Sandberg was Miss Rhode Island for 1953 and participated in the 1953 Miss America pageant. She was also Miss Rhode Island USA for 1954 and participated in the 1954 Miss USA pageant. They had five children.
Encouraged by Senator Pastore, Noel ran for the Warwick city council in 1958. He lost his first campaign, but was elected in 1960, and served three terms. In 1966 he was elected Mayor of Warwick, serving from 1967 to 1973 (three terms). In 1972 he mounted a successful campaign to become Governor of Rhode Island. Senator Pastore announced his retirement from the Senate in late 1975. In January 1976, Noel announced a bid for the Democratic nomination to succeed Pastore.
As governor, Noel sponsored legislation creating the Rhode Island Port Authority with power to take control over Quonset Point, Davisville, and other relinquished U.S. military property. He established the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development. He sponsored legislation which established the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIHMFC).
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Philip Noel
Philip William Noel (born June 6, 1931) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 68th Governor of Rhode Island. He was elected in 1972, and re-elected in 1974.
Since the death of Edward D. DiPrete in 2025, he is the last surviving governor of Rhode Island to have served in the 20th century.
Philip Noel was born in Warwick, Rhode Island. His parents were Joe Noel, an auto mechanic, and Emma Crudeli Noel, a jewelry worker. He attended public schools in Warwick. He was a class president at Samuel Gorton High School, and was named to Rhode Island's All-State football team during his time there.
Noel took his first job at age 15, working as a commercial fisherman. Noel later accepted a football scholarship to Georgetown University. He transferred to Brown University when Georgetown dropped its football program. He received a degree in Economics from Brown in 1954, then returned to Georgetown University to study Law, with the goal of joining the FBI. While still in school, he obtained a job from Democratic Rhode Island Senator John O. Pastore in the Senate post office.
After receiving his J.D. degree, Noel began his professional career as a solo practitioner, with law offices in Providence and Warwick.
Noel married Joyce Anne Sandberg on October 20, 1956. Sandberg was Miss Rhode Island for 1953 and participated in the 1953 Miss America pageant. She was also Miss Rhode Island USA for 1954 and participated in the 1954 Miss USA pageant. They had five children.
Encouraged by Senator Pastore, Noel ran for the Warwick city council in 1958. He lost his first campaign, but was elected in 1960, and served three terms. In 1966 he was elected Mayor of Warwick, serving from 1967 to 1973 (three terms). In 1972 he mounted a successful campaign to become Governor of Rhode Island. Senator Pastore announced his retirement from the Senate in late 1975. In January 1976, Noel announced a bid for the Democratic nomination to succeed Pastore.
As governor, Noel sponsored legislation creating the Rhode Island Port Authority with power to take control over Quonset Point, Davisville, and other relinquished U.S. military property. He established the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development. He sponsored legislation which established the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIHMFC).