I had the pleasure last night of working with a guy in our association that has been officiating basketball for 53 years. He's 76 and still moves pretty well. We had a girls varsity game and he did just fine. A true legend in the state of Arizona.

Anyone else out there have some old-timers still pounding the hardwood?

JR?

In our association, we have a guy that i believe has 51 or 52 years under his belt. Unfortunately, he hung up his uniform this year, but he still is a very active member in our association.

Do tell....

Our Vice President, Jim Lyle

Did you ever meet Kitch?

No i never met Kitch. He passed on before i started officiating.

I thought that might have been the case.

You know someone had earned respect when people from around the province wear a memorial badge on their black CABO jacket.

Wow!! I never heard about the patch.

Although on another note, I find it wierd that my board STRONGLY discourages the wearing of a CABO jacket. The only warm up jacket that we are allowed to wear is a black jacket with the HBABO crest on it.

It was a small circular patch, about the size of a toonie that said "KITCH" in yellow letters.

Hmm... HBABO eh? I wonder if they are the only board that does that.

i'm not sure of you got it but

HBABO=Hamilton Board of Approved Basketball Officials

I've reffed with many of your colleagues. In fact, (at least) one of them is a published author.

I went to Phil Bova's camp with two of your officials.

And I ref fb with Mickelboro and Skinny.

Cool.

Who knows, maybe someday we'll work a game together.

Haven't been pounding the hardwood for a lot of years (10), but I will be 61 in May and still working at it. I hope I can still walk at 76! This guy must have had really good "court prescence".

We have a Gentleman in our association, I believe he is 77 years old. He officiates baseball, basketball, volleyball, football and softball. He hung up his patches last season but was still officiating at the highest level of high school. I believe it was last year that he was invited to work games at the little league world series.

Hes a top notch official and to him it is all about the kids.

56!
 

I asked one of our old timers if he was a Steeler fan. He asked why and I said because your shirt has become black and yellow. He said it was the same shirt he'd been wearing since he started in 1948. Unless I'm off, that's 56 years! Great guy. He's about 4'11"...signals traveling by putting his arms above his head and twittling his two index fingers! Needless to say, he does mostly jr. high games now. Bet he has some stories!

BigDave - I used to do BBall out of the Phoenix area.
There is only one guy I know around here who it could have been - Fritz.

Am I right?

[Edited by Andy on Feb 5th, 2004 at 09:56 AM]

Nope. His name is Cliff Myrick and he has lived in Tucson most of his life.