William Noonan, Jr.

William Earl (Bill) Noonan, Jr., age 95, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on November 28, 2021. He was born in Beaumont, TX on 1/16/26, but was raised in Vinton, LA during his elementary and high school years. Bill was a retired educator, receiving his B.S. degree from Northwestern State University in 1946, his M.S. from LSU in 1950. In the period 1942-1946, Noonan earned sport letters at three universities: McNeese Jr. College (basketball), LSU (football), Northwestern University (football, basketball, track & field). He taught at Leesville High School and then joined the faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University as Supervisor, Student Teaching in Math and Health & Physical Education. He served as State Director, Health & Physical Education and also as Specialist, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics, U.S. Office of Education. Active in national and international activities, he served on a three-man team on President Kennedy's Physical Fitness Council to conduct fitness clinics for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe in England, Germany, and Turkey and later directed a four-person team conducting clinics in Iran and Portugal for the American Council on International Sports. Noonan served as President of the Louisiana Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Society of State Directors for Health, Physical Education and Recreation of the U.S. and received the honor award from both organizations and the American School and Community Safety Association. He directed the national Lifetime Sports Education Project for the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation which conducted clinics for teachers and recreation leaders in all states except Alaska and in several Canadian provinces. Noonan directed the nationally recognized I CARE Program which continues today as a property-tax funded program serving students and community in alcohol and drug prevention and safety education for both public and private schools in East Baton Rouge Parish. He was awarded the first annual "Bill Noonan Award" for lifetime achievement in alcohol and drug prevention in Louisiana by the Governor, State Superintendent of Education, and Attorney General on behalf of the Partnership for a Drug-Free Louisiana. Noonan served as a Board Member of the Environment & Health Council of Louisiana since 1982 and was Executive Director, President, and Treasurer. He strongly advocated collaborative efforts and directed Project "NIC" (nicotine) which provided over 100 school-community teams from over the state with tobacco prevention in-service with 30 organizations including the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. Noonan served his community over the years as a Board Member of the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention, Mayor-President's Council on Youth Opportunity, Family Council of Baton Rouge, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Alcohol and Drug Center, Council on Aging and served as Chairman of the Greater Baton Rouge White House Conference on Children and Youth. He served also as Chairman of the Louisiana Interdepartmental Committee of Official State Agencies for Health, Education and Welfare. He was awarded the honor of Outstanding Tobacco Control Advocate in 2007 by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Noonan was honored by the Greater Baton Rouge Area Leadership Board in outstanding volunteerism in 2008 for the American Cancer Society. In 2010 he won the 4th Annual Cecil J. Picard Award for Excellence in Education to Prevent Childhood Obesity. He was very active in Senior Olympics at regional, state, and national events and was honored by the Louisiana Sr. Olympic Sports Hall of Fame. He won the 2011 Sybil Wittner award for the I CARE program. Bill was a fan of humor and formed the CBS (Creative Bumper Stickers) Club. Later, he formed the Club named "Bamboozers"which was a fun group that became a national and international travel club. Bill is survived by his wife, Adele Frazier Noonan; a son, William E. Noonan, III (Beth) of Watson, LA; three daughters, Linley Noonan Brown (Patrick) of Prairieville, LA; Nancy Noonan of Riviera Beach, FL; Lori Noonan of Lake in the Hills, IL; stepson Rick Crew (Yvonne) of Houston, TX; stepdaughter Libby Crew of Baton Rouge; and, stepdaughter Carolyn Crew Cangelosi (David) of Baton Rouge. He is also survived by many grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and step-great-great grandchildren who affectionately called him "Papa Bull." He was preceded in death by his parents, William Earl Noonan, Sr. and Nellie M. Zuelsdorf Noonan; a brother, Robert Harry Noonan; a daughter, Marcy Jean Noonan; a stepson, Michael Crew; and an infant great-great-grandson, Jameson Vega. A Celebration of Life in his memory will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home on Saturday, January 15, 2022 with visitation from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., chapel service @ 10 a.m., followed by burial in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Alzheimer's Association in Bill's name. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com. Face masks required in the funeral home.