College of Lake County

Amateur and Recreational Officiating:
Started by umpiring ASA Fast Pitch Softball in 1972 as a favor to a friend who was managing a women's travel team and needed an umpire.

Worked Fast Pitch, 16" Slow Pitch and 12" Slow Pitch Softball from 1972 through 2011 under the auspices of the ASA, USSA, and NSA.

Softball Umpire-In-Chief and Assignor for the Crystal Lake Park District for 5 years.


IHSA:
In 1977, had the good fortune to work a Men's Fast Pitch game with John Widmayer and he convinced me to join the IHSA and start doing High School games.
That led to getting registered in Baseball, Softball, Football, Volleyball and Basketball.
Dropped Volleyball after two years to concentrate on Football in the Fall.
Advanced to the Certified level in Football, Softball, Baseball and Basketball.

Worked up to the Regional Final Level in both Boys and Girls Basketball before retiring from Basketball following the 1987 season to follow my son, a High School wrestler.
Retired from Baseball following the 1991 season.
Continued with Softball through the 2001 season when a job change made it impossible to get to afternoon games on time.
My final IHSA Softball game was fittingly with John Widmayer, the man who got me started, working a Regional Final.

I was the Football Crew Chief from the beginning, putting together a crew of like-minded members whose goal was continuous improvement and advancement.
One crew member, Chuck Popp, was with me all 41 years. Terry 'Doc' Wolf was with us 25 years and the three of us were together on all 3 of our IHSA State Final Games.
My greatest joy came from having my son Brian on the crew for 17 years. A Father-Son relationship like that is hard to beat!
A serious back injury ended my Football career following the 2016 season.
Final game was a First Round Class 4A Playoff game at Johnsburg High School, as fate would have it, the site of my very first Varsity football game as an offiicial.

IHSA State Final and Recognitions:
1988. 1989, 1991, 1994 Softball State Final Official
1992 IHSA Softball Official of the Year
1994, 1995, 1996 Football State Final Official
40 Year Award 2018

Northern Officials Association Recognitions:
1986/87 Football President
1988/89 Football Official of the Year
1999 George Young Award Recipient
2017 Recognized as an NOA Lifetime Member

Other Recognitions:
Crysla Lake Park District 30 Year Award 2004
Elgin Area Officials Association Official of the Year 2009
Inducted into the Big K Hall of Fame 2013