In the end house of a row of small brick houses facing an unpaved street in Northeast Washington an Olympic boxing champion received homage from his admirers.
Norvel Lee returned home last night to discover he was a celebrity. Sports writers and photographers, some of whom had been camped at his front door since early afternoon, were waiting when Lee and his wife drove up at 8:30, about seven hours later than expected. More than a dozen youngsters crowded around the first United States Olympic light-heavyweight boxing champion since 1920. Neighbors and well-wishers, some of whom Lee had never met before, dropped around to offer their congratulations.
“It just didn’t start tonight,” Mrs. Lee said. “People have been calling since Saturday night. On Monday there was quite a crowd outside. I thought something had happened, an accident or something. They just wanted to see where Norvel lived.”
Plane Delayed Twice.
Mrs. Lee drove to New York to meet her husband’s plane. The plane was late. It was held over in Shannon, Ireland, because of tire trouble and again in Newfoundland because of engine difficulty. “The greatest thrill,” Lee told his audience, “was receiving the Val Barker Trophy for being the outstanding boxer. I had no idea I would get it. No idea in the world.”
The 27-year-old Negro is a puzzle to those thousands of eager youngsters, struggling along with $40 club fights, all waiting for that big break. Here is a man who has it and doesn’t want it, a man who two years ago was offered $10,000 to shake his amateur status and fight for money.
“Professional boxing is a racket,” Lee told a reporter without bitterness. If you get in the right clique, you’re all right; if you don’t, you can’t get anything.
Says Pros Are Exploited.
“And the boys are exploited, especially the boys without much education. You can see that from Louis down to Beau Jack. Of course, it has its good points, I guess. Some of those men never would have gotten anywhere any other way. But I believe the bad points outweigh the good ones. Anyway, I don’t want it.”
Had Lee turned professional, he would have been somewhat of a freak in boxing circles, starting his career so late in life. Born in Covington, Va., Lee never did much boxing before coming to Washington in 1947.
He had been an assistant coach, though. No previous experience, but he qualified, according to Army standards.
“You know how the Army is,” Lee laughed. “I was just sitting in the right position at the right time. That was in Manila and they decided to get up a boxing team and for some reason or other, they picked me to help John Ennis, a former college coach.”
Will Keep Present Jobs.
Norvel’s plans call for his continuance as a correctional officer at the National Training School and instructor at the Southwest Police Boys’ Club. His wife, Lesley, is a librarian at Police Boys’ Club No. 2. Lee also hopes to finish his education at Howard University. There are two courses between him and his degree in physical education.
As for boxing, he’s hanging up his gloves. He has gone as far as one can go in amateur ranks. From here on he’ll turn his boxing ability over to the youngsters.
“That’s what I want to do,” he said last night. “I want to develop boys, teach them to box. As amateurs, not professionals.”
Then the Olympic light-heavyweight champion had to get ready for work. He was due at the training school last night at midnight to resume his duties as correctional officer. Even Olympic champions have to eat.
