Noel Heminger grew up in Franklin on Home Avenue with his sister, Ann, and his brother, Tad. His parents, LeRoy and Helen Beatrice Heminger, were active in the community. LeRoy was instrumental in forming Franklin’s Little League program, and Beatrice was the director for the Franklin Girls Club for many years. Their community leadership modeled a lifetime of a youth-centered career for Heminger. In 2010, Heminger retired as Franklin Community School Corporation’s athletic director. The road to retirement was paved with a long history of athletic involvement for Heminger.
Growing up, Heminger lived near Province Park and the Franklin Boys Club on Monroe Street. He spent a lot of time on the ball fields and courts in town. In high school, he was a four-sport athlete, lettering in football, track, basketball and baseball. Graduating in 1968 from FCHS, Heminger went on to letter in baseball at Eastern Illinois University from 1968 to 1972.
While a student at Eastern Illinois University, he met Ruth (Carstens), who was an education major. They married in December 1973. Heminger had started his career in Effingham, Illinois. He was teaching and coaching when his old basketball coach, Dick Harmening, called him and asked him to return to Franklin to serve as his assistant basketball coach.
Anyone who lived in Franklin during those years will recall that FCHS basketball was on fire then, and it was an amazing opportunity to return to his hometown and coach a team that went on to the Final Four two consecutive years. There was a caveat, though — Ruth needed a teaching job, and somehow Harmening made that happen.
“I am a hometown boy. I love Franklin. I was away for five years and was happy to have the opportunity to return home and live my life in Franklin,” said Heminger.
The Hemingers grew their family in Franklin, raising three daughters: Allyson Sever, Stephanie Potter and Jill Bland. Ruth taught math at FCHS, coached swimming and loved sports. Sadly, Ruth passed away in 2021. Noel and Ruth’s children grew up immersed in all aspects of athletics.
“Growing up, I remember going to baseball games, sleeping in the bleachers, eating treats from the concession stands, and riding on the mower with my dad between games dragging the infield. The players had nicknames for my sisters and me. Mine was Rugrat,” said Bland. In all the years Heminger was athletic director, Bland said he never missed one of her games or meets. “That’s pretty impressive given all of the sporting events he was coordinating,” said Bland.
Heminger coached basketball and football and taught physical education and health at Franklin Middle School from 1973 to 1975. He then went on to serve as assistant football, basketball and baseball coach from 1975 to 1978. From 1978 until 1995, he was head basketball coach. In 1994, he served as assistant athletic director and moved up to head athletic director in 1995 until his retirement in 2010.
Heminger was also a baseball scout for the Kansas City Royals. Heminger recalls he and his Midwest regional scout followed Indianapolis native Gary Thurman through several games. Thurman, who graduated from North Central High School, was drafted by the Royals in the first round (21st pick) of the 1983 amateur draft. Heminger said one of his favorite memories happened a few years later when Thurman invited him to spring training. He was invited into the baseball clubhouse and met George Brett and Bo Jackson, plus the rest of the team members. He describes that meeting as feeling overjoyed. He had brought baseballs along with him and obtained signatures from the entire team. “It was a fantastic experience,” Heminger said.
In 2021, Franklin Community School Corporation renamed the FCHS athletic complex in Heminger’s honor. Heminger helped shape the athletic complex during the design process for the high school’s building and grounds. In addition, his storied athletic career as a player, coach and mentor contributed to the honor.
Heminger mentioned key people he considered mentors in his own life. Along with his father, LeRoy Heminger, he listed Dick Harmening, Ted Server, J.R. Bishop and Bill Self, who rank high on his list as men he has had a great deal of respect for.
When asked about retirement life, Heminger laughed and said grandchildren keep his schedule busy. His eight grandchildren have inherited the family’s athletic genes, as he is often at their various sporting events. He loves attending and cheering them on. Heminger also enjoys the outdoorsman lifestyle of hunting and fishing in his spare time. He enjoys an annual family fishing trip to Canada as well. With a move to the outskirts of town, he has tried his hand at farming. He grows pumpkins and sunflowers. “Sometimes the harvest isn’t any good, but I have fun doing it,” said Heminger.
