A native of Meriden, Connecticut, Penfield moved to North Carolina to become a Duke University student in 1938.
[1] At the behest of famed Duke football coach Wallace Wade, the Atlantic Radio Network gave Penfield the opportunity to broadcast games while he was still a student.
Bob Harris served as his color commentator and the two broadcast both Duke football and Duke basketball men's basketball games.
Facing health problems, Penfield retired in 1976 and was succeeded by Harris, who became the new "Voice of the Blue Devils".
[2] Penfield was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.