Philip William Noel (born June 6, 1931) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 68th Governor of Rhode Island.

He was a class president at Samuel Gorton High School, and was named to Rhode Island's All-State football team during his time there.

[2] He received a degree in Economics from Brown in 1954, then returned to Georgetown University to study Law, with the goal of joining the FBI.

degree, Noel began his professional career as a solo practitioner, with law offices in Providence and Warwick.

As governor, Noel sponsored legislation creating the Rhode Island Port Authority with power to take control over Quonset Point, Davisville, and other relinquished U.S. military property.

After an unsuccessful bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 1976, Phil resumed the practice of law in Providence and Washington, became a successful real estate developer, and founded several start-up companies in the petroleum industry, most of them based in Louisiana.

In his sunset years, Noel remained active in various business enterprises including a Warwick marina and country club.

In early 1976 Noel was criticized for remarks he made characterizing the conditions of poverty in a "black ghetto".

[1] He no longer takes clients, but still does legal work for his family's various companies, including commercial real estate and a rice farm in Louisiana.