Emil Knorr was a two-sport athlete at Bluffton. Knorr played football all four years and was named honorable mention all-conference in 1955. He was co-captain in 1956, when Bluffton won a conference title with Knorr starting at both fullback and defensive end. He also played baseball for the Beavers and was a two-year letter winner.

In 1968, Knorr received his master’s degree in mathematics from Boston College. He taught at both the high school and collegiate levels, including at Hiram College and the Gilmour Academy.