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Throwback Thursday: 1985 feature on Dick Jorgensen crew

Let’s go back to 1985, when CBS featured referee Dick Jorgensen and his officiating crew.

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Back in the day, it was quite rare for network television to do a feature story on the NFL officials.

In 1985, The NFL Today did a feature on referee Dick Jorgensen and his crew.

Jorgensen’s crew in 1985 was umpire Neil Gereb, head linesman Ron Phares, line judge Dick McKenzie (father of current NFL official Dana McKenzie), back judge Roy Clymer, side judge Dave Hawk and field judge Johnny Grier.

Here’s The NFL Today feature:

Jorgensen’s last game was Super Bowl XXIV in January of 1990. During Super Bowl week he started feeling ill, but worked the game without problems.

After the game he was diagnosed with a blood disorder, and passed away on October 10, 1990, at the age of 56.

We hope you take a moment to remember Jorgensen in his element – leading a NFL crew.

Mark Schultz is a high school football official, freelance writer and journalist. He first became interested in officiating when he was six years old, was watching a NFL game with his father and asked the fateful question, "Dad, what are those guys in the striped shirts doing?"

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