Former referee Dale Hamer dies at 87

Dale Hamer, a 22-year NFL official who called two Super Bowls and was a replay official after he left the field, died November 29. He was 87. He wore number 104 for most of his career.

Hamer graduated from college in 1960, and was a math teacher. In 1964 he went to work for the USX Corporation, retiring in 1992 as a vice president.

Basketball officiating called Hamer first, as he started calling high school basketball games in 1962. He worked high school and college basketball until 1980. Hamer started his football officiating career in 1964, working his way through the college ranks along the east coast until the NFL hired him as a line judge in 1978.

NFL official at three positions

Hamer served as a head linesman or line judge on crews lead by Jim Tunney, Jerry Markbreit and Bob Fredric. He was made a NFL referee in 1989. He missed the 1995 season due to heart valve replacement surgery. He returned to head linesman in 1998 and retired 2001 after a 22-season career.

He was the president of the officiating union from 1996 to 1999.

During his career, Hamer worked a total of 12 playoff assignments on the field – nine as a head linesman and three as a referee. He worked six wild card games, three divisional playoffs, one conference championship as a referee, and Super Bowls XVII and XXII as a head linesman.

There is a humorous anecdote from Super Bowl XXII. The Broncos got up 10-0 and the Redskins were looking flat. While awaiting the kickoff, Hamer went over to referee Bob McElwee and said that the Redskins were a good team and it was going to be a competitive game. In the middle of the Redskins 35-0 run in the second quarter, Hamer walked back over to McElwee and said that the Broncos were a good team and it was going to be a competitive game.

During the 1992 NFC Wild Card Game between the Saints and Eagles, Hamer got scuffed up while trying to separate players, and drew the attention of John Madden.

“He was an official’s official. Willing to put crew before self, he was a strong leader among strong personalities,” retired NFL referee Ron Winter said in a message to Football Zebras. “With a marvelous sense of humor he could make the best of a difficult situation. He was immensely proud of his family and enthusiastically shared his pride in [his wife] Arden’s accomplishments as she finished her Ph.D. and authored a book. He was a genuinely nice man and will be missed by the officiating community.”

After Hamer left the field, he was a replay official from 2002 to 2014. He worked a total 348 regular and postseason games on the field — 123 of those at the referee position — and 187 games as a replay official for a total of 535 games.

Hamer is survived by Arden, his wife of 54 years, his two children and five grandchildren. Our condolences to all who knew him and loved him.

Dale L. Hamer, 1937-2024

Dale Hamer, 87, passed away peacefully on November 29, 2024.  Born on September 12, 1937, in Fairhope, Pa., Dale’s life had a lasting impact on his family, friends and the sports community. 

Dale was a proud member of the Belmar High School Class of 1955 coordinating class reunions and special events keeping the class connected to this day.  He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania in 1960 working his way through college cutting lumber at a local sawmill.  In 1970 he earned his Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh.  He worked for the USX Corporation retiring in 1992 as the vice president of leasing and finance.

Dale Hamer started his illustrious officiating career with high school basketball in 1962.  Two years later he would work his first high school football game.  Over the next two decades he would officiate over 500 high school and college basketball games and over 400 high school and college football games. In 1978 he joined the ranks of the National Football League officiating over 400 games [including preseason] on the field.  Dale’s NFL career included several playoff games and two Super Bowls.  In 2002 he moved into the replay booth working over 180 games.  During his time in the NFL, Dale played an active role in the NFL Referees Association serving as president from 1996-1999.

Off the field, Dale was inducted into multiple Halls of Fame including the Robert J. Cloherty Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame.  He was a great champion for recognizing individual sport accomplishments and worked tirelessly for Pennsylvania’s network of Sports Hall of Fames.

Dale was proceeded in death by his oldest daughter Lauren Engber and his three siblings Donna Grace Gilotty, Darla Jean Belsick, and Robert Hamer.

Dale will be missed by his wife of 54 years, Arden, and his two daughters Lisa (Jamison Jenkins) and Megan (Christian Tomley).  He was extremely9 proud of his five grandchildren Emily Engber, Jamison “JJ” Jr & Elizabeth “Ellie” Jenkins, and Arden & Miles Tomley.   Additionally, Dale will be missed by his extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center via www.upmchillman.com/donate.