Football Zebras

Former NFL official Bill Swanson passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - October 7, 2020October 8, 2020 0

William "Bill" Swanson, 1925 - 2020 Former NFL line judge, umpire and back judge Bill Swanson died on August 20, 2020, at the age of 94. Swanson wore number 38 for most of his NFL career. Swanson worked in the NFL from 1965 to 1985. He worked on the field for 13 playoff

Ed Merrifield, Super Bowl XXVI field judge, passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 0

https://gty.im/79552728 Edwin J. "Ed" Merrifield, 1932 - 2020 Ed Merrifield, a Super Bowl and conference championship official, passed away this past February 16. A Missouri native, Merrifield worked in the NFL from 1975 to 1994 on crews lead by Tommy Bell, Jerry Markbreit, Bob McElwee, Gene Barth, Jim Tunney, Howard Roe, and Ron

Nate Jones, 22-year NFL official, passes away

by Mark Schultz - December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 1

Nathan L. Jones, 1938-2019 Nate Jones, a NFL deep wing official from 1977 to 1998 passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 81. He is is not related to the former NFL player and current official Nate Jones. Jones broke into the NFL in 1977 as a line judge on

Howard Roe, 13-year line judge and referee passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 1

Howard Roe, 1939-2019 Howard S. Roe, a NFL line judge and referee from 1984 to 1996 died last month at the age of 80 at his home in Castle Rock, Colorado. Roe wore uniform number 33 for his entire career. He became a referee in 1989 and abruptly left the NFL

Chuck Heberling, referee of The Drive passes away

by Mark Schultz - December 10, 2019December 10, 2019 0

Charles "Ace" Heberling, 1925–2019 Chuck Heberling, a NFL line judge and referee for 23 seasons passed away Dec. 9 at the age of 94. Heberling worked Super Bowl XXIII as a replay official, and was in uniform as an alternate for Super Bowls XIII and XXI. He wore uniform number 46 for

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