Bryce Seaman

Bryce started officiating football in 1963 taking the path of teachers he saw officiating while he played in high school.  He attended classes put on by AIA Commissioner Johnny Riggs which took place for 2.5 hours twice a week with an additional 30 minutes for new officials.  New officials had to meet with the commissioner individually before the season in order for officials to get assignments.  His first game was a JV game at West High against North High.  He began working Varsity games after 1 year and made a trip to Wickenburg.  His second game took him to Yuma for another exciting game making $7.50 for the game and 2 cents a mile rider mileage.  The crew decided to stop and have a steak dinner on the way back so he ended up losing $5 on the trip.  He was certified after 3 seasons.

Bryce worked many playoffs games including Semi-Finals in all divisions.  In a Quarter-Final game between Thunderbird and Saint Mary’s his umpire was Ed Hochuli.  His most memorable game was as a linesman for a Semi-Final at ASU pitting Marcos de Niza coached by Ron Cosner and Jesse Parker for Camelback, with Referee Earl Yost and Line Judge Matt Gilcrist.  In 1996 he was named the Arizona Outstanding Football Official by the NFHS. 

Bryce took up Soccer when it was first sanctioned as an AIA sport in 1980 and worked the first state championship game.  He went on to work 15 State Championship games throughout his years on the pitch with his last taking place in 1997.  In 1984 he was recognized as the most outstanding Soccer Official in Arizona.  He was named to the national soccer rules committee in 1991 for the NFHS and was a national certified rules clinician.  He was named AIA Soccer Rules Interpreter in 1992 serving until 2010 and retiring from Soccer in December 2011. 

Bryce was a charter member of the CAFOA board (predecessor to the AzFOA) and served in numerous capacities during his 13 years on the board serving the last 9 years as Secretary.  He was an advocate for moving to 5 officials long before the AIA agreed to do so years later.  In 1988 he became a State Director of the NFOA joining the National Board of Directors in 1998 receiving the National Distinguished Service Award in 1996.  In 2002 Bryce became President for 1 day before the board was dissolved by the NFHS, making him the last President after Fritz Goreham was the first.

Bryce continues to officiate football and was on the field for his 50th season in 2012.

Glendon Reichert

Glendon began officiating football in 1983 while going to college in North Dakota.  The first day he walked on the field, he worked a junior high game in the afternoon and a varsity game that night.  He moved to Arizona in 1984 and continued officiating football, as well as basketball and volleyball.  He officiated at all levels and gave of his time and knowledge to mentor new officials, as others had done for him.  In football he worked at least one year at every position at the varsity level to gain experience before becoming a varsity crew chief in 1996.  During his 7 years wearing the white hat, Glendon and his crew worked numerous playoff games.

Glendon joined the board of the Central Arizona Football Officials Association (CAFOA), the predecessor to the Arizona Football Officials Association (AzFOA), in 1997.  He immediately got involved with the formation of the Ed Trexler Football Camp and became an instructor for new officials, making a difference right away.  Between camps, he compiled information from the previous camps and produced a professional quality packet for future camps.  As a result of compiling this information, he also produced a varsity pregame booklet that he shared with numerous crew chiefs throughout the years.

Glendon broke new ground in Arizona with the creation of the mentor program.  He took a feedback mechanism he had developed for non-certified officials he worked with on junior varsity games and rolled it out across the entire valley.  The mentor program provided a consistent mechanism to help officials improve and documented the steps necessary to progress from one level to another and eventually become a certified official.  The initiation of the mentor program removed the ambiguity that existed previously.  The program expanded beyond football and an overview was presented at the 2001 NASO National Convention by the AIA Commissioner of Officials.  This program will live on and is a lasting legacy to Glendon’s willingness to give back to a sport he enjoyed.

Glendon’s favorite moment took place on October 25, 2001, when he officiated the Cox “Game of the Week” between Hamilton and Highland.  It wasn’t his favorite moment because his crew was on TV, nor because of the schools involved, but because his son, Brent, was at the game celebrating his 9th birthday working as a ball boy.  A lasting memory was created for father and son that night when Brent was shown on camera and highlighted by the announcers.  When asked if he would trade this game for a chance to work a 5A (Division 1) State Championship, Glendon’s immediate response was, “NO WAY!”

Glendon retired following the 2002 season after 20 seasons on the gridiron.  He continued to be active in the mentor program by observing new officials while attending his sons’ high school football games.

Nick D'Arcangelo

• 25 years of High school football official, AIA.
  
  
• Board member of AZFOA and its predecessors for 18 years.
  
  
• 7 years as Association's President.
  
  
• 15 years as an Instructor for the New Official's class.
  
  
• Worked 5 State Championship Games.
  
  
• Put on a week-end clinic in Springerville and one in Show Low.
  
  
• Helped assigning games through the AIA.
  
  
• Assigned chain crews for 2 years for Varisty contests.
  
  
• Trained numerous new officials in Pop Warner, Frosh, & J.V. games who are now playoff quality officials; some referees
  
  
• Gave numerous speech presentations at the coaches meetings.
  
  
• Gave several speech presentations at the school trainers meetings regarding on field safety.
  
  
  
  

Tom Donithan

Began officiating Arizona High School football and youth football in 1990.  I became certified in 1993.  In 1994, was asked to join Tom Fraziers crew as the umpire.  Worked on that same crew (outside of a couple of personnel changes) until I retired in 2006 due to business requirements.  During that 13 years, Tom worked the 5A championship in 1995, the 3A championship in 1999 and the 4A championship in 2002, along with numerous playoff games.  I also worked the All Star game in 1999.

Tom was elected to co-instruct the S/W area rules classes in 1994 and continued to do so until I retired.  He also was elected and served on the regional board for that same time frame witch is now called the AZFOA. During those years Tom worked on the Awards committee and was in charged of setting up the kickoff meeting every year.  Co-assigned youth football officials for the S/W league for 10 years.  Participated as a clinician for the officiating camps in Phoenix, Tucson and Round Valley from 1996 to 2001.  Tom also participated as a clinician for two coach’s seminars.  From 1993 to 2006, along with Larry Kindred, mentored a new pair of entry officials every year working sub-varsity H.S. games. Tom served on the AZFOA Advisory Committee for 2 years. 

In 2006, was invited to work in the ACCAC/WSFL Junior College Football League.

Tom Scarduzio Jr.

• 1979 - 2007 High school football official, AIA except 2 years because of knee injury.
  
  
• 15 years as an Instructor High School football rules.
  
  
• Officiated 3 state championship games at Sun Devil Stadium.
  
  
• Officiated 2 state all-star
  
  
• 1986-2005 Junior college football official.
  
  
• Officiated Valley of the Sun Bowl games including a National Championship.
  
  
• 1997-2007 Supervisor of Officials of the ACCAC/WSFL.
  
  
• In 1985, along with Hank Mancini created the first ever training film for
  officials made exclusively from films of local high school football
  officials officiating high school games.
  
  
• When our association was given permission to use 5 officials on varsity games there were no mechanics available for Back Judges. I wrote the Back Judge mechanics that were adopted and taught the Back Judge classes.Responsible for introducing the concept of "philosophies’" to Arizona high school football. Responsible for introducing a standardized concept of unsportsmanlike conduct as it applies to behavior and language on the field in Arizona high school football. Member of the first Advisory Committee responsible for revising 5 man mechanics in Arizona. During the time off for my knee injury I developed, trained and assigned the observers in the observer program. I also observed each crew that officiated a St. Mary's home game at Phoenix College for those 2 years. Organized and conducted several on field mechanics clinics. Conducted clinics with Hank Mancini in Bullhead City and Flagstaff. Presenter at the clinics in Round Valley. Presenter at white hat clinics in Phoenix. Instructor of the 3's & 4's from our association.
  

Hank Mancini

Began officiating in 1974 in Massachusetts where NCAA rules were used for high school football.  I received varsity assignments beginning in my third year. I was a rules instructor for my officiating association.  Also, I worked varsity games on the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Moved to Phoenix in 1979 and registered with the AIA.  I became a crew chief in 1983.  Developed the first film review of officials with Tom Scarduzio and Bob Sietsema.  I was elected to the Region II Football Officials Board in 1985 and was the instructor for the Moon Valley rules classes.  I was elected to Vice President of the Region II Board in 1987.  Served as Board President from 1988 until 1993.  Chaired the first White Hat meeting in 1991.  Was a strong proponent for the 5th official.  Developed the first Football Officiating camp in 1995 with Ed Trexlor and Tom Frazier.  Ran officiating camps in Phoenix, Tucson, and Round Valley from 1995 until 2001.  Also, ran officiating camps in Bull Head City and Flagstaff.  From 2004 until the present, served as trainer, with Tom Scarduzio, Matt Widmann and DeWayne Demland, for the 4’s and 3’s meetings held at the AIA office.  During the early 2000’s, was a clinician at the White Hat and Coaches seminars.  I served on the AZFOA Advisory committee for 4 years.  Have also mentored numerous crews and acted as a game observer.  I have worked 6 Championships and 2 All Star games.  Was inducted into the AZFOA Hall of Fame in July 2009.

In 1993, was invited into the ACCAC Junior College Football Officials Association  in 1993.  I was the first official accepted into the Junior College officiating as a Referee.  Was Treasurer of the WSFL Officials Association from 2000 until 2006.  I have worked 5 Valley of the Sun Bowl games, including the 2005 National Championship game between Glendale Community College and Grand Rapids Community College.  Was inducted into the WSFL Hall of Fame January 2010.

Ed Burke

• 1971 - 2006 High school football official, AIA.
  
  
• Board member of AZFOA and its predecessors 15-20 years.
  
  
• 1971 Prepared articles of incorporation, by-laws for the predecessor of the AZFOA and served as the legal advisor to the board for many years.
  
  
• 1985-1994. 26 hour class for new High School Football Officials
  
  
• 2000-2006. Instructor High School football rules.
  
  
• 1979-1981 Junior college football official
  
  
• 1971-1976 High school basketball, AIA
  
  
• 11 Years Ice hockey referee. USA Hockey 1995-2006
  
  
• 2000-2006. Certified Instructor, USA Hockey. 2-3 seminars per year
  

Ron Lemon

Ron's 31years football and basketball career started in Pennsylvania 1984 through 1993.

After moving to Arizona Ron officiated twenty five years with the AIA. He worked ten playoffs witch included Quarter Final, Semifinal, and one Championship Game.

Ron worked youth football every week-in possible to help mentor the younger officials.

Ron also severed on the AZOFA board five years.

Ron also loved to mentor and work with the youth. He was a council member for six years out of the fifteen years and also was involved with the Special Olympics.

Ron would travel anywhere to help raise money for his Arizona Chapter.

Jim Watson

• 25 Years of Service 1983 - 2007
• 16 Years as member of AzFOA Board 1990 - 2005
• 10 Years as the First AZ State Rules Interpreter 1995 - 2005
• 13 Years Instructing In New Officials Class 1993 - 2005
  
• Worked Six Championship Games:
  

• Arizona Official of the Year - 2000
• Founder of Annual White Hat Seminar
• Member of the Board and Instructor - The Ed Trexler Football Officials Camp
  

• Officiated high school football (at all levels) from 1967 through 1984 and from 1990 through 1995.
• Served as area chairman for approximately 12 years. Also served on the state committee for two years.
• Officiated 10 state playoff games and two state championship games.
• In 1984 participated in production of the National Federation Football Rules Film as an on the field official. (It was filmed in Tempe)
• From 1970 through 1994 officiated in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.
• Officiated in the Valley of the Sun Bowl games ten times, five times as Referee. (1981, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 91, 92 and 94)
• 1990 and 1994 ACCAC official of the year.
• 1998 - Inducted into the ACCAC Hall of Fame.
• 1972 through 1986 Big Sky Conference.
• 1983 and 1984 - Big Sky Officials Board of Directors.
• 1978 through 1988 - Pacific Coast Conference. (PAC-10).
• 1984 Worked Division I-AA semi-final game.
• 1986 Fiesta Bowl alternate.
• 1987 East-West Shrine game.
  

Ed Hochuli

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

Born December 25, 1950, in Milwaukee, Wisc. Moved to Arizona as a child.Raised in Tucson, and resides in the Phoenix area since 1976.

Ed has six children: Heather, Scott, Jennie, Shawn, Aaron and Rachel.

OCCUPATION: Official in the national football league since 1990. Referee since 1992.

Attorney since 1976, currently specializing in civil litigation. An originating partner with the phoenix law firm of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, an 85-lawyer firm founded in 1983.

EDUCATION, SPORTS PLAYED: Canyon del Oro High School (graduated 1969). Football (allstate 2 years), Basketball, wresting, track

University of Texas-El Paso (undergrad degree with highest distinction, 1972). Football scholarship four years (all-wac academic, 1972)

University of Arizona (law degree, 1976). .

OFFICIATING: Umpired Little League baseball (1970-1973)

Began officiating football in 1973 in Tucson

High School (1973-1985).
Junior college (1980-88).
Big Sky Line Judge (1980-85).
Pac-10 Line Judge (1983-89).
World League 1991 (Back Judge), and 1992 (Referee).
National Football League (No. 85) 1990 - present.
Back Judge, 1990-91;
Referee 1992 - Present.
Super bowl Referee - Super Bowls XXXII and XXXVIII Super bowl alternate referee - (3 times) Refereed 5 championship games

COMMUNITY: Southeast Valley Pop Warner President (1984-88)
Pop Warner coach (1982-1988)
March of Dimes preventing birth defects
Board of Directors (8 years) & Chairman of the Board, Arizona chapter NFLRA Charities
Frequent speaker for grade schools, high schools, and officiating associations around the country.

Robert A. Salviano Jr.

1968 – 1993 AIA Football Official - Worked Playoff and State Championship games in each of the old school classifications (3A, 2A, A, B, C) as well as in each of the new classifications (5A – A)

1968 – 1993 Pop Warner Football Official

1974 – 1999 AZ Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Football Official

1986 – 2002 Big Sky Conference Football Official Conference Championship in 1998 National Playoff Game in

1999 2006 Inducted into Big Sky Football Officials Association Hall of Fame (Only 2 other Arizona Football Officials are in the BSFOA Hall of Fame (Ed Trexler and Larry Farina)

Robert A. Salviano, Jr. has officiated football for 35 years, 25 of those years as a Football Official in the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He has proudly represented Arizona Football Officials by working 28 seasons of NCAA Football.

Robert (Jr.) is extremely honored to be inducted into the Arizona Football Officials Hall of Fame along side of his mentor, and Dad, Robert A. Salviano (Sr.).

Robert A. Salviano (Sr.)

1947 – 2002 Active Official for Arizona Interscholastic Association (In one or more sports for 56 years)

1947 – 1974 AIA Football Official – Worked Playoff and State Championship games in each of the old school classifications (3A, 2A, A, B, C) prior to becoming the AIA Commissioner of Officials in 1974

1974 – 1983 AIA Commissioner of Officials

1954 – 1956 Boarder Conference Football Official (Now known as the Western Athletic Conference)

1962 – 2002 Pop Warner Football Official (even during the time he was the Commissioner of Officials for the AIA)

1964 – 1986 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Football Official

1983 – 2002 Resumed as an AIA Football Official after leaving the Commissioner of Officials position for the AIA (Worked Playoff games in the new 5A – A conferences)

Robert A. Salviano (Sr.) has dedicated 56 years of his life to officiating football in the state of Arizona. He has trained and mentored hundreds if not thousands of high school football officials in his distinguished 56 year career.

Randy Roessler

Randy started officiating football in 1956 and retired in 1986. He saw a lot of changes in the game over the years. (When he started officiating Randy received game fees of $8.50 a game and the fields were lined with gypsum and not lime. Lime could burn the skin and eyes.)

Randy was my rules instructor for the beginner's class in 1975. He conducted the mechanics class at Camelback High School. Randy taught these classes for over ten years. He was encouraging to all who attended his classes.

Randy was well respected among fellow officials and always acted in a professional manner. He represents all the ideals that make up the characteristics of a member of the Hall of Fame.

Thomas Frazier

Tom has been officiating football for 26 years, at many levels (13 years at the College level) and at many positions. He has been working in the Big Sky Conference for 6 years now and was promoted to Referee for the 06 season.

At the high school level, Tom worked the Az. All-Star game in 1988 and 1999. He Refereed the 1995 5-A and 1999 3-A Championship games. He was the Co-chairman and Coordinator for the AIA/Ed Trexler High School Football Officiating Camp from 1996-1999. He served on the CAFOA board and was the President of the association in 1998 and 1999. He was also selected as the Official of the Year by NFIOA for the State of Arizona in 1999.

At the Junior College level, he worked the 1997, 1999 and 2000 ACCAC Valley of the Sun Bowl. The 2000 game was for the NJCAA National Championship. He was voted the ACCAC Most Improved Official of the Year in 1997 and Official of the Year in 1998.

Tom has been an instructor for many of the beginner classes and a mentor and advisor to many high school and college officials. He has spent countless hours trying to help fellow officials reach their fullest potential. He has been and still is a great asset to the officials of this valley and has been a great leader of this association.

JOHN KELLY 

John has officiated Arizona High School sports through the AIA for 30 years, 1968-1998. He has been a mentor to many upcoming officials. He has worked numerous football playoff games and has work State Championship games in 1976, 1978, 1982 & 1987. 

John also officiated Arizona High School basketball and worked many playoffs, boys and girls. He also officiated the 1981 Girls State Championship game.  

John also officiated Baseball and worked many playoff games. He also worked 11 State Championship baseball games. The 1993 4A All Star Game was dedicated to John. In 1996, John was presented with the NFIOA Arizona Baseball Official of the Year.

JOHN “TOPP” TOPPI

OFFICIATING EXPERIENCE:

AIA Football 1966-1991

NJCAA Football 1968-1991

Professional Football – Phoenix Blazer – Southwestern Football League – 2 years

Valley of the Sun – Junior College Football Bowl Game

Pop Warner Football

5 State Football Championship Games

Arizona Junior College Football and Baseball Conferences 1968-1991

PAC 10 Baseball 1966-1991

WAC - Western Athletic Conference Baseball 1966-1972

Inducted into the 2003 NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame - 1 st Umpire ever to be inducted

High School Basketball 1968-1990

John Toppi was born on March 12, 1922 in Providence, Rhode Island. During his years at Mount Pleasant High School, John played baseball & basketball and graduated in 1941. He joined the US Navy in 1942 and was stationed on the USS Warrick ADA 89 and served during the invasion of Iwo Jima & Okinowa. Although John retired from Honeywell after 34 years of service he is still working part-time as a bus driver for Apollo High School.

John brought pride to Arizona officiating by becoming the first umpire to be inducted into the Junior College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame on May 23, 2003 at the JUCO World Series for the past 30 years and service as Director of Umpires for the last 15 years.

Known and respected for his love of sports, Topp brings an eternal smile, a quick wit and an endless supply of wisdom to the game. His incredible history spans the country from Arizona to Rhode Island where, as a young man, he played for Bridgeport in the Colonial League and for Grandby in the Provincial League.

Retired Major League umpire Ted Hendry once said of John Toppi “He represents a one of a kind athlete that makes baseball the great sport it is”. John is well known in the Valley of the sun for baseball; but his passion and talent doesn’t end there. He has officiated all levels of high school and junior college football and basketball. There is not a veteran coach or professional athlete from the state of Arizona who hasn’t in some way come to know, love and respect this exceptional man.

As an AIA football official from 1966-1991, Topp became a mentor and friend to every official on and off the field. Through 5 state championship games, John was known for his accuracy, fairness and unique sense of humor. Topp has exemplified the character and dedication of AZ officials in all areas of sports.

John’s wife Ann, son Jack, daughter Patti Bellew, and grandsons Jonathan and Patrick Bellew would like to Thank Larry Kindred and AzFOA Hall of Fame committee members for honoring this outstanding individual.

ROBERT MADRID 

Bob started officiating football in 1972 with brother John and cousin Henry. Bob started officiating Basketball, soon after. Bob started as a wingman in 1972 and became a referee in 1976. His football crew was together for 20 years and became very close friends.

Bob worked many playoff games and officiated 6 State Championship games.

Bob also officiated Basketball and was as successful and committed to it as he was to football. He officiated many basketball playoff games.

Bob was a long time CAFOA Board member and many times taught classes to new officials. Bob also headed up Area Rules meetings.

Bob looked forward to Football and Basketball season every year because he enjoyed being around the kids. He always said that it was not a vocation but an avocation.

Ed Trexler

Edward W. Trexler was born on November 24, 1927 in Peru, Indiana to a large family of 2 sisters and 7 brothers.  He graduated from High School in 1943, Manchester College in Indiana in 1950 with a B.S. in Physical Education, and Indiana University with a Masters in Secondary Education in 1952.  He received his EDD in 1962 from Indiana University in School Administration.  Ed and his family moved to Arizona in 1962.

Ed served in the Army Infantry in Europe for two years before he was wounded three days before the Battle of the Bulge, which his unit fought in.  He had already been shipped to England to recover and he spent the remaining three years of the war as a rehabilitation instructor and definitely had caught the teaching bug.  He received the Purple Heart for his injury.

Mr. Texeler always had a love for sports and especially officiating.  While Ed spent over 50 years as a teacher, coach or administrator, that entire 50 years, Ed was an official of one sort or another.  That entire time he was always working diligently training, assigning or evaluating officials also.  Ed also served as the Athletic Director and Head football coach at Judson High School in Arizona. 

Trex, as many officials called him, first became an official shortly after high school by doing intramural and city league games.  He did football, basketball, track & field as well as tennis starting in 1947 as an official for various Indiana conferences and colleges.  He worked in over 15 different college leagues in his career as well as four different professional leagues and three different Olympic leagues.  He also stared in several TV commercials and assisted in the writing of several books on sports. 

Ed also utilized his talents as a supervisor, trainer, and consultant of officials.  He was a national and international clinician for officiating.  He was the Supervisor of Officials for the Western Collegiate Officials Association and the Commissioner of the Arizona Community College Association for over 20 years.   

Ed spent many years in Arizona helping form the current officials organization.  Ed was always able to get people to follow him in his vision.  This was critical in the early days of the Region II Football Association.  He would often stand in front of the Kick-off meeting and extol the virtues of joining the Association.  Ed believed in the power of a group and he believed in officials.  He worked for over 50 years to help his fellow official become better.   

Ed Trexler passed away at halftime of a high school basket ball game he was officiating on January 31, 1997. To the last, Ed continued doing the thing he loved the most, officiate. Hundreds of officials and coaches turned out on February 4, 1997 to pay their respects for Ed. Many wonderful stories about Ed and his officiating were shared that day.  It was very evident how many lives he had touched through his long career.  Ed Trexler was truly a legend in Arizona officiating. And as Ed would always say in closing,

“See you around the league” .

Earl  L. Yost Jr.

                                    Officiating Accomplishments

Conducted group meetings, clinics and administered test as the asst. commissioner of officials under the direction of Mr. Robert Salviano during 4/1977 to 10/77 when he be came AIA state commissioner from 1977 to1997. 

Was instrumental in forming the Region II Football Group for the purpose of upgrading officiating in Region II. Now

known as the ( C.A.F.O.A. )    Pop Warner Football Conference: Served as Commissioner from 1960 to 1995 trained and evaluated football officials. 

Arizona Junior College Athletic Conference: Served as the commissioner for two years 1967 to 1968 duties were to do the assigning, training, evaluation, clinics, ( etc ).  Southwestern Football League: Assigned ,trained, officials for two years. This was a Professional League in AZ.

Officiated Football from 1959 to 1977 for: ASIA

Western Athletic Conference

Big sky conference

Arizona Junior College Conference

Southwestern Pro-Football League

Pop Warner Football

Highlights:

Worked Professional Football two years in the Southwestern Football League.

Worked Bowl in Las Vegas between Air Force and Navy

Work a total of ( 46 ) semi and championship for the AIA

National Federation of High School Assoc. for service and contributions to high school football in ( 1993 )

National Federation Interscholastic Contributor of the year ( 1995 )

Valley of the Sun Chapter, National Football Foundation and College

Hall of Fame's Jack Stewart Award for contributions as an Arizona High School Football Offical ( 1995 )

Herman Harold

Officiating Experience

Started officiating in 1967 and worked until 1994 with the Region II Football Officials Association. (Now known as AzFOA).   He served in various positions as a board member to Vice President for about eighteen years. 

During his eighteen years on the board, Herman served as one of the Commissioners for the Southwest Pop Warner Assoc.  His duties were to assign all officials to games and to help mentor the new officials. 

Herman also assisted in Rules Interpretation Classes and as an instructor at area meetings. 

While with the AIA, Herman has worked over thirty playoffs and championship games.

Joseph Gustafson

Joe was an Assistant Recreation Director in Boulder, Colorado from 1957-1962.  He then moved to Chandler, Arizona and became the recreation coordinator for the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation.  He became the Chandler Parks and Recreation Director in 1967 to 1972.  In 1972, Joe moved to Phoenix Parks and Recreation as the Recreation Supervisor until his retirement in 1994.  During all of his years as a recreation supervisor Joe oversaw literally thousands of youth games as both an administrator and an official.

Joe’s avocation and passion is officiating.  He especially loves baseball, softball and football.  He started officiating for the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) in 1966.  About 1500 football games and 33 years later Joe hung up his stripes.  During that time, Joe spent most of his time as the “White Hat”.

 Joe is best known as the “father” of the east valley Pop Warner officials.  He started assigning officials to Pop Warner games in Chandler and Coolidge long before there was a football officials association. From there his duties grew.  He was assigning for two conferences with eight associations, plus a separate group that had separated from Pop Warner in 1990.  By far, Joe had the largest area of responsibility.  He was one of the first to “computerize” his assignments in order to handle as many as 90 officials on a single Saturday.  Often you would see Joe working games and would definitely see him out “scouting” and evaluating the people that worked for him on Saturday.  Joe worked hard to help the rookies under his care.  He would match them up with more experienced officials that he knew would make the younger official grow.  It wasn’t all about just covering the games, Joe always want the officials to grow.

Joe also spent the better part of his football career, serving his fellow officials as a Chandler representative to the original Region II Football Officials Association, later to become the Central Arizona Football Association.  Joe was the association Secretary for many of those years.  He also served as a group leader in the Chandler area for nearly 25 years.

Joe Gustafson was and still is a dedicated official interested in helping the younger official improve and assisting all of his fellow officials in any way he can.     

Jim Murphy

Jim officiated Arizona Football for over 30 years.  For 25 of those years, Jim served on the board of the Region II Officials Association (now thel Arizona Football Officials Association).  Jim spent many years teaching the new officials class.  There was no one better than Jim for first year officials to get their first exposure to officiating.  Jim’s rules knowledge was second to none.  He spent several years as the State Rules Interpreter and was instrumental in getting several rules changed in the Federation Rule book.

Jim also spent 30+ years officiating in the Junior College program.  Jim officiated over 30 playoff and championship games and was a mentor to all football officials, new and old.