Hall of Fame
Chris Munn is one of two Distinguished Letter winners in the Class of 2021. Munn was a standout athlete, but his contributions to Norwich and the rugby program after graduating have engrained his legacy in the program’s storied history forever.
Munn was a four-year player and three-year starter with the rugby team as a standout inside and outside center. He led the team in scoring in back-to-back years as a junior and senior tallying 32 tries. The 1979-80 team went 10-2 overall and 6-0 against collegiate competition and was inducted into the Norwich Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
That year, Munn led Norwich to huge victories over Division I powerhouses Boston College and Dartmouth College. He also served as the rugby team captain in the 1980-81 season. Munn was nominated to the New England Rugby Football Union All-Star squad in 1980. When not leading the ruggers on the pitch, he also played for the Norwich hockey and lacrosse squads.
Following graduation and commissioning into the US Army Military Intelligence Branch, Munn served 24 years in demanding assignments around the globe. He served in hotspots in Mogadishu, Somalia during United Nations-led Operation Restore Hope; in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy, and in multiple NATOled multinational peacekeeping tours in Bosnia-Herzegovina during Operation Joint Forge and Joint Guard. Munn retired after an illustrious 25-year military career and then transitioned into a civilian career with the Department of Defense working at Fort Drum in New York.
Munn was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2013 and that diagnosis led his teammates, classmates, and friends to rally around him. He studied ALS and became a strong regional advocate dedicated to raising ALS awareness. Men’s rugby hosted a spring Chris Munn Rugby 7s rugby tournament in his honor, which is now an annual tradition. The endowed Chris Munn Rugby Scholarship has provided 10 scholarships to deserving men’s and women’s rugby student-athletes who demonstrate leadership, courage, and dedication both on and off the pitch.
Each year, Munn spoke to the assembled teams at the tournament about the challenges that ALS presented him personally. He encouraged them to always take care of each other and reminded them of the bonds you share with your rugby teammates. This message of fellowship, love, and devotion to teammates, classmates, and the university was heard by countless collegiate rugby players and led to the development of the team motto “With You” or “With You Always,” which recognizes the essence of his advocacy. Recognizing his immense impact on the student-athletes and alumni, Munn was recognized with the inaugural NU2NU Award honoring his significant volunteer service to the Norwich community.
Chris lost his battle with ALS in January 2020 and was interred in the Norwich cemetery overlooking his beloved university and the green grass of the rugby pitch. He is survived by his wife, Tammy Munn of Peru, N.Y., and sons Ryan and Christopher, Jr. who helped him to live every day to its fullest. Christopher, Jr. and girlfriend Cassie are expecting their first child in spring 2022.
