Sonny Noel graduated from Portland High School in 1943 where he played baseball for 4 years. He then entered the military service as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. During World War II, he was twice wounded in combat receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Presidential Citation (2), 3 Arrow Heads, and decorated by Winston Churchill. Following the service he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 34 years.

He coached the Andrews Post American Legion baseball team for 10 years, winning championships 9 times including the Maine title in 1960 when the team posted a 33-0 record prior to losing to New York 2-1, in a sectional final. He was also selected the Legion Coach and Man of the Year.

Sonny played in the Portland Twilight League for many years and was a state and New England all-star shortstop for the Pallotta Oil softball team which he captained to seven state championships and was twice chosen most valuable player at state tournaments.

Noel umpired baseball for 33 years, was selected as umpire-in-chief at the 1975 College Baseball World Series in Omaha, and umpire-in-chief of the American Legion World Series at Manchester, NH in 1976. He worked professional games many years in New England, and college games along the East Coast.

In 1977 he was elected president of the ECAC baseball committee, and in 1978 he became the first New Englander to be elected president of the NCAA diamond panel.

He is presently a member of that body's board of directors.

He is now a racquetball pro and won the Maine Open at Portland in 1977. In 1980 he was named to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

He is married to the former Marie West Tilton, and they have two daughters, Donna Perkins and Debra Robertshaw, and a son, Bruce.