He is known as the “Dean of NFL Referees,” one of the most respected officials in the history of professional sports. In an illustrious career that spanned 31 years, he received a record 29 postseason assignments, including 10 championship games and four Super Bowls.

He is the only referee ever to work back-to-back Super Bowls (XI and XII), a distinction not likely to be duplicated,so revered that he became the first official ever named to the highly hyped “All Madden Team” in 1990 and two years later received the “Gold Whistle Award” from the National Association of Sports Officials. With a master?s and doctorate, he is also renowned as an educator, rising through the ranks from teacher, to principal, to headmaster and superintendent in a career that has covered more than 50 years.