Referee Icons
The Most Recognizable Referee In the World
You may not know why you know this man. But you do. You've likely seen his image flashed on some sports program or in...
The Joan Powell Effect
Joan Powell has been everything in volleyball — player, coach, official, conference coordinator, national coordinator. And she has excelled at every level.How influential? How...
Robert Watts: Back From The Blindside
Veteran football official Robert Watts was recently elected president of the Austin (Texas) Football Officials Association (AFOA). It is all part of moving on...
Bernice Gera: First Lady Umpire
Some months ago, in our early correspondence with Bernice Gera we received a letter signed "Bernice Gera - First Lady Umpire." We asked her...
Jim Burr: The No-Nonsense Icon of College Basketball Officiating
When it comes to top-notch college basketball refs, few stand as tall as Jim Burr. Sure, some consider him a hard-ass, but there’s no...
Bill McCreary: NHL’s Gold Standard Ice Man
Bill McCreary has a passion for hockey, and it shows. After working three Olympic gold medal games and more Stanley Cup Finals games than...
Kari Seitz: The Most Decorated Referee in U.S. Soccer History
With an unmatched resumé of soccer officiating accomplishments, Kari Seitz retired as the most decorated international referee in U.S. Soccer history. From a young...
Art McNally: Zebra Chief
Zebra Chief. That’s the name of the boat presented to Art McNally honoring him for decades of service to the National Football League. Paid...
Like Father, Like Sons
Politics had the Adamses. Big band music had the Dorseys. Acting had the Barrymores. And officiating has the Crawfords.
Umpire Henry “Shag” Crawford retired in...
June Courteau: A Lasting Legacy in Women’s Basketball Officiating
A well-read woman with an insatiable desire to cram yet more knowledge into her mind was sitting poolside at an Aruba timeshare dwelling in the summer of 2015. Simply reading doesn’t...