Joe Crawford in Referee magazine

[DrakeM]

The NBA was different back then. If the powers that be saw you and liked you, that was all it took. I'm sure it didn't hurt that Joe has a history of officiating in his family.
Mark Wunderlich tells the story of how he got "seen".
He was working a rec league in Philly and someone from the league (it may have even been Joe Crawford) saw him. Next thing he knew he was being invited to Veteran's camp and then got hired. It's more of a process now.