Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Naylor*, Robert F.
Robert F. Naylor*
- Induction:
- 2011
- Class:
- 1957
One of Lehigh's most versatile athletes, Robert F. “Bob” Naylor '57 excelled on both the football field and on the baseball diamond for the Brown and White. The winner of six varsity letters, Naylor captained Lehigh’s baseball team as a senior and was an all-purpose stand out on the gridiron where he excelled on offense, defense and special teams.
“I am pleased, happy and honored to be inducted into the Lehigh Hall of Fame,” Naylor said. “My time at Lehigh University was an exceptional experience and to be recognized for my achievements in both football and baseball at Lehigh has great meaning for me.”
In a time where football players played all 60 minutes, Naylor was a standout running back and much more. Naylor returned kickoffs and punts, punted and covered kicks for Lehigh and was named All-Chemical All-American in both 1955 and 1956 as well as All-ECAC Southern Division in 1956. He still holds the school record for the longest punt return, a 94-yarder versus Temple in October 1955 (thru 2016 season). Naylor added an 82-yard punt return versus Bucknell earlier that season.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Bob,” said Walter Mannherz ‘57, Naylor's former roommate and Chi Psi fraternity brother. “I know this means a lot to him and is something that has always been in the back of his mind. He deserves it, and I'm happy to know that his family, friends and teammates can be there to celebrate with him.”
Naylor began his Lehigh football career by being elected co-captain of the freshman squad. He rushed for a modest 128 yards in his first varsity season, before excelling in his final two seasons. As a junior, Naylor rushed for 569 yards in eight games to rank fifth in rushing among players from Eastern schools. Naylor led the CAC, averaging more than six yards per carry in 1955. He had a higher per-carry average than future NFL Hall of Fame members Jim Brown (5.2 yards) of Syracuse and Lenny Moore (5.1 yards) of Penn State.
In addition, Naylor passed for 161 yards, giving him 730 yards in total offense, and average of 91.3 which ranked him just three yards behind teammate and Hall of Fame quarterback J. Daniel Nolan. Naylor added another 418 yards and three touchdowns in punt and kickoff returns, and led Lehigh in punting average at 36.3 yards per kick. His 26 points were second only to Nolan for the team’s scoring lead.
“He had a great deal of raw talent and was obviously very competitive,” Mannherz recalled. “He was easy going, but when something needed to get done, Bob would get it done. There was nothing more interesting than watching him run back punts. It just flowed. He always knew where to go and used his blockers the right way. He had great instincts and just always knew what to do when he had the ball.”
After missing the VMI game in 1955 due to injury, Naylor enjoyed one of his finest days against the Keydets the following year, rushing for 220 yards on just 17 carries in a 27-20 Lehigh win. Naylor averaged 5.42 yards per carry for his career, ranking him sixth in school history.
“I played with Bob for four years,” explained teammate C. Keith Rust ‘57. “He was the biggest, the best, the fastest and the quickest - and one of the reasons I never got the ball. Bob is a great guy, who certainly deserves this honor. He is such a nice person and a good friend. He's another great teammate of mine who deserves this honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Naylor also starred on the baseball diamond where he was Lehigh's cleanup hitter and starting shortstop for three years. He captained in the baseball team and was named best all-around team member in 1957.
Since graduating in 1957, Naylor has held numerous positions in sales and sales management, working with companies like Air Products, Penn Salt, Metalsalts Corp., and Merck and Betz Corp. At the time of his induction, he was serving as the owner and president of Lyndet Corporation.
Miller and his wife Marlene have four children and reside in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
“I am pleased, happy and honored to be inducted into the Lehigh Hall of Fame,” Naylor said. “My time at Lehigh University was an exceptional experience and to be recognized for my achievements in both football and baseball at Lehigh has great meaning for me.”
In a time where football players played all 60 minutes, Naylor was a standout running back and much more. Naylor returned kickoffs and punts, punted and covered kicks for Lehigh and was named All-Chemical All-American in both 1955 and 1956 as well as All-ECAC Southern Division in 1956. He still holds the school record for the longest punt return, a 94-yarder versus Temple in October 1955 (thru 2016 season). Naylor added an 82-yard punt return versus Bucknell earlier that season.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Bob,” said Walter Mannherz ‘57, Naylor's former roommate and Chi Psi fraternity brother. “I know this means a lot to him and is something that has always been in the back of his mind. He deserves it, and I'm happy to know that his family, friends and teammates can be there to celebrate with him.”
Naylor began his Lehigh football career by being elected co-captain of the freshman squad. He rushed for a modest 128 yards in his first varsity season, before excelling in his final two seasons. As a junior, Naylor rushed for 569 yards in eight games to rank fifth in rushing among players from Eastern schools. Naylor led the CAC, averaging more than six yards per carry in 1955. He had a higher per-carry average than future NFL Hall of Fame members Jim Brown (5.2 yards) of Syracuse and Lenny Moore (5.1 yards) of Penn State.
In addition, Naylor passed for 161 yards, giving him 730 yards in total offense, and average of 91.3 which ranked him just three yards behind teammate and Hall of Fame quarterback J. Daniel Nolan. Naylor added another 418 yards and three touchdowns in punt and kickoff returns, and led Lehigh in punting average at 36.3 yards per kick. His 26 points were second only to Nolan for the team’s scoring lead.
“He had a great deal of raw talent and was obviously very competitive,” Mannherz recalled. “He was easy going, but when something needed to get done, Bob would get it done. There was nothing more interesting than watching him run back punts. It just flowed. He always knew where to go and used his blockers the right way. He had great instincts and just always knew what to do when he had the ball.”
After missing the VMI game in 1955 due to injury, Naylor enjoyed one of his finest days against the Keydets the following year, rushing for 220 yards on just 17 carries in a 27-20 Lehigh win. Naylor averaged 5.42 yards per carry for his career, ranking him sixth in school history.
“I played with Bob for four years,” explained teammate C. Keith Rust ‘57. “He was the biggest, the best, the fastest and the quickest - and one of the reasons I never got the ball. Bob is a great guy, who certainly deserves this honor. He is such a nice person and a good friend. He's another great teammate of mine who deserves this honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Naylor also starred on the baseball diamond where he was Lehigh's cleanup hitter and starting shortstop for three years. He captained in the baseball team and was named best all-around team member in 1957.
Since graduating in 1957, Naylor has held numerous positions in sales and sales management, working with companies like Air Products, Penn Salt, Metalsalts Corp., and Merck and Betz Corp. At the time of his induction, he was serving as the owner and president of Lyndet Corporation.
Miller and his wife Marlene have four children and reside in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
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