Football Zebras

Banks Williams, Super Bowl XXV official, has passed away

by Mark Schultz - July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 0

Banks Boothe Williams, 1932-2019 Banks Williams, an NFL back judge (the position name is now the field judge) from 1978 to 1994 passed away in April at the age of 86. Williams, a Texas native, wore uniform number 99 for most of his career. Wlliams got started in officiating in the 1960s,

Dick Dolack, Super Bowl IX field judge, passes away

by Mark Schultz - April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 0

Francis Richard Anthony "Dick" Dolack, 1934-2018 Dick Dolack, an NFL official for 26 years passed away Dec. 29, 2018, according to a report in Referee magazine. Dolack worked as a field judge (the position now identified as a back judge) in the NFL from 1965-1991 and wore number 31 for most of

Red Cashion, 2-time Super Bowl referee, dies at age 87

by Mark Schultz - February 10, 2019April 8, 2019 0

Mason L. "Red" Cashion Jr., 1931-2019 Red Cashion, perhaps one of the most recognizable NFL referees in the 1980s and '90s and who delighted millions with his enthusiastic "First dowwwwn" call, passed away Sunday at the age of 87, according to a report from The Eagle of Bryan, Texas. Cashion worked 25 seasons

Former NFL line judge, Art Holst passes away

by Mark Schultz - February 2, 2019February 2, 2019 0

Arthur J. Holst, 1922 - 2018 Art Holst (pictured above, second from the right, in glasses) passed away December 18, 2018, at age 96. At the time of his death, we think he is was the oldest-living official. Holst was born in Galesburg, Illinois in 1922, and lived most of his adult

Tom Dooley, retired NFL referee and line judge passes away

by Mark Schultz - May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 0

Robert Thomas Dooley, Jr., 1934 - 2018 Tom Dooley, a 14-year NFL line judge and referee, died May 9. He was 83. Dooley joined the NFL as a line judge in 1978, and became a referee in 1981, replacing the retired Cal Lepore. To the best of my knowledge, Dooley is the only

Former NFL umpire Rex Stuart passes away

by Mark Schultz - March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 0

Embed from Getty Images Rex Stuart, 1941 - 2018 John Rex Stuart, a retired NFL umpire and replay official, died on March 6, at the age of 76. The Lincolnton, N.C. native officiated in the NFL from 1984 to 1997 and wore number 103 his entire career. Stuart played college football at Appalachian

Hendi Ancich, former NFL umpire and replay official, dies at 80

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - January 5, 2018January 5, 2018 0

Hendi Andrew Ancich Sr., 1937-2017 Former NFL umpire Hendi Ancich died December 20, 2017. Ancich worked as a NFL official from 1982 - 1998. He wore number 115 on his uniform his entire career. Ancich was born on the island of Brac, off the coast of Yugoslavia in 1937. His family emigrated

FJ Fitz Graf, veteran of 4 Super Bowls and Ice Bowl, passes away at 94

by Mark Schultz - December 4, 2017December 5, 2017 0

Frederick "Fritz" Graf, 1922-2017 Former NFL field judge, Fritz Graf, who called four Super Bowls, and was on the field for The Ice Bowl, died November 29, at the age of 94. At the time of his death, we think he was the oldest surviving official. Graf was a native of Akron,

Former NFL official Jerry Bergman passes away

by Mark Schultz - July 3, 2017July 4, 2017 0

Embed from Getty Images Gerard Bergman 1929-2017 Gerard R. "Jerry" Bergman, officiating patriarch who had two sons follow his footsteps to the NFL, passed away in May. He was 87, and had suffered from dementia for the last few years. Bergman wore number 17 on his jersey his entire career. The elder Bergman had

Fred Swearingen, referee for the Immaculate Reception, passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - April 7, 2017April 8, 2017 0

Frederick Swearingen 1921-2016 Former NFL referee and field judge Fred Swearingen, who presided over the Immaculate Reception, passed away Dec. 16, 2016, at the age of 95. Swearingen was a NFL field judge (now back judge) and referee from 1960 until 1980. A native of Ohio, Swearingen served in the Navy during

NFL100: When the referee had to rule on things other than football

NFL100: Officials used to use only one ball for a game

NFL100: For half of NFL history, the official time was not on the scoreboard

NFL100: Officials with the longest NFL tenure (30+ seasons)

NFL100: 90-year-old rules made for a different game

Obituary