The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1153250
30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK wolfpacker spotlight NORFLEET LANE SUGG Donor Norfleet Lane Sugg is a treasure trove of NC State memories. The 95-year-old was born, raised and still lives in Pinetops, N.C. Some tried to convince him to go to UNC out of military school, but Sugg likes to say, "I got smart." He went to NC State instead, but before graduating he was called into duty. Sugg served two years with the Navy during the Pacific Theater against Japan in World War II. He was an engineer — primarily on the USS Sabine — and saw action in three battles, including the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. After graduating from NC State in 1948, he had a distinguished career that included being the CEO of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, chairman of the Agriculture Council of America, Executive Vice President of the NC Agribusiness Council, and the first President of the College of Agricul- ture and Life Sciences Alumni Society at NC State. In 1992, he was given the highest honor at the university when he was presented with the Watauga Medal. And along the way he watched NC State's most memorable moments in athletics. His earliest recollections predate Reynolds Coliseum — at the 2,000- seat Thompson Gymnasium. "I was there when they played Carolina, and the boys in Raleigh kept break- ing in, the fire chief came in and condemned the gym, and we didn't play the game," Sugg noted. "The game was played later at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh. "Nobody ever heard of the press. Everett Case instituted the press, and half the ball game Carolina would throw the ball in, and we would intercept it and score. The game was so lopsided. It was still nice." Over the years, Sugg had legendary Pack coaches like basketball's Norman Sloan and football's Lou Holtz in his house. He became close friends with Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Kay Yow. Current Wolfpack Club director Bobby Purcell is a "dear friend." His favorite Wolfpack athletes include Frank Turner, a 155-pound running back from 1943-46 that Sugg insists was just as good as UNC's legend- ary Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice. Sugg also can remember one particularly heartbreaking moment in football. In 1979, he was in attendance when No. 2 Penn State won on a 54-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Nittany Lions a 9-7 win. "I could see some of our players on the ground beating the ground down there," Sugg noted. "I wanted to take a bullet and shoot that ball." Sugg doesn't attend games like he used to, but he doesn't complain. "I'm 95," he said. "I'm just glad to be here." Sugg has been told he is the oldest living donor to the Wolfpack Club. "The Wolfpack Club is a family," he said. "I love the family. Sports are a vital part of every university. … The Wolfpack Club is a strong arm for the university." — Matt Carter/Photo By Matt Carter