Cedar Rapids Athletic Officials Association
Fall 2000 Newsletter

Sixty-fourth Fall Dinner: Everyone is invited to attend the 64th Annual Fall Banquet to be held at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, Thursday, November 9, 2000, starting with cocktails at 6:15 p.m. and dinner starting around 7:00 p.m. There will be cash bar. The featured speaker will be Bill Quinby, former member of CRAOA and NFL official. A reminder that one meal is free with your membership, Please fill out the reservation card promptly and return it to Dick Pohorsky.

Top Test Scores: The top Football Part ll test scores went to Brian Phillips and Kevin Ridley with 97's. Don Allison, Ron Peiffer and Joe Schmall had 96's. Seventeen officials had 90+. Thirty-seven officials scored 80+. Eighteen officials had 70+. Two officials failed the test. Seven officials did not take the test. The highest test score for applying officials was Marv Lincoln with a 97.

Longevity Awards: The following officials will be recognized at the banquet for longevity to CRAOA. John Pierce, 30 years; Tom Cleveland and Jerry Winter, 20 years; Don Allison and Tim Brashaw, 15 years; Scott Anderson, Doug McArtor, Joe Schmall and Deb Trimble, 10 years; Chris Hickson, Ed Johnson, Dan Moore, Kent Sesker, Adrian Simonson and Brad White, 5 years. Congratulations to these officials for their service to high school football.

Crew Receives Play-offs: As of this writing, one crew received a play-off invitation. They are Dave Brousard, Steve Hamilton, Joe Schmall, Doug McArtor and Scott Anderson, Jack Jaspers and Ed Johnson also worked the Play-offs.

A Reminder To Update The Secretary: We need to update for the 2001 football season. Enclosed you will find a 2001 & 2002 update sheet. Please fill it out and return as soon as possible.

Basketball Season Upon Us: We are still lookt ing for new basketball officials. If you are interI ested in working basketball, please contact Harry 5 Brown. We have 11 new applying basketball offia cials this year. We hope we can retain many of 11 them in the next two years. We are in real need - of rnore basketball officials in the area. We have r over 800 games to assign just in the Metro area. d That does not include the Varsity level. If anyone can work 3:45 p.m. games, please contact the Executive Secretary.

Applying Members this year are Kevin Darrow, e Duane Detert, Ken Juran, Marv Lincoln, Steve .' Mather, Kevin Schrader and Loren Wood. From i- Step I to Step II: Ron Lanning, Tim Raap, Matt n Fandel, Mike Jones, Chad Pohorsky and Mike ;t Wennekamp. Transfer, Kenn Nye.

Some Past History:

40 Years Ago: 1960, meeting was held at the * Sheraton-Montrose Hotel. President was Don * Menning, Thirty-two members, applicants and d guest, were in attendance at the dinner. The "n secretary presented the name of applicants meetg ing all the requirements for approval as associas; tion members in football: Don Buchheister, Ed -it Criss, Ed Lipp, Len Novak, Ron Schirm, Bob 5 Allison and Bill Moss. With dollar signs in their tir eyes, Wilson moved and Tvrdik seconded the move, to adjourn to a repast of one-eyed jacks.

35 Years Ago: 1965, the President was Bob Vrbicek. 37 members attended the dinner meeting at Ronneberg Inn in Amana. Bob Oldis of Iowa City was the guest speaker. Lou Ginsberg reported a balance of $149.00 on hand. Approval was given to Ron Robertson, Dick Jordan and Dean Odekirk, with temporary approval to Jerry Tann and Doug Moore. President Vrbicek chaired a discussion of the pros and cons of the association lining up the officials for Junior High and J.V. events. Many ideas were given.

30 Years Ago: 1970, Fall meeting and dinner were held at the Ronnenberg Inn Restaurant in Amana. President was Bud Paulsen. Fees and 4-man or 3-man FB orriciating crews were topics discussed. New approved officials were: Don Ash, Pat Ehlert, Gary Huber, Jim Melake, Bill Ross, Dick Root, Al Schulte, Duane Voshell, Ed Heying, Dick Wagner, Roger White, Bob McCool, and Randy Bogart. Probation to Harold Lyon, Bill Nichols and John Pierce.

25 Years Ago: 1975, Bill Quinby was president. Applying members to the organization were: Albert Florentino, Don Haugen, Jim Hermann, Kieth Koch, Joe Olson, Jerry Tann, George Volk, Larry Walderbach, John Wilson, Richard Hejda and Don McKay. Dinner was at the Ronnenberg.

20 Years Ago: 1980, Jim Patterson was president. The treasury had a balance of $945.23. Jim Bolden, Dick Pohorsky, and transfer John Neiland were approved as members. Step two to Tom Cleveland, Jerry Winter, Don Madden and John Ross. Featured speaker at the banquet was Stan Jack, Athletic Director of Kirkwood Community College.

15 Years Ago: 1985, John Pierce was president. Treasury balance was $475.00, with several schools not paying. Speaker at the banquet was Gus Schrader. New officials approved for full membership were Dave Brown, Warren Byerly, and Al Gremm. Tom Vogel was to make a new sketch for a 50-year patch.

10 Years Ago: 1990, president was Jerry Winter. Checking account had $2781.34. The following officials were approved for full membership: Tom Bach, Deb Boulet, Todd Clausen, Scott Fruehling, Jeff Holderman, Lon Olejniczak, Kevin Thorpe and Rich Wilson.

5 Years Ago: 1995, president was Lynn Hughes. The Fall Banquet was held at the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana. Thop test score went to James Patterson with a 98. Longevity Awards went to Len Benhart (50 years), Bill Brousard and Vince Horst (35 years), Jack Christensen (30 years), Don Allison and Don Burrows (10 years), Jeff Drahozal, Doug McArtor and Joe Schmall (5 years). Three crews worked the play-offs.

Several basketball officials dropped out of Association. Jeff DeLong, Robert Olberding, Boyd Severson, Bernie Ward, Darby Washington, and Tom Yock have left the association. Applying members who dropped out were Ben Happel, Gene King, and Chuck Pottebaum.

Membership: C.R.A.O.A. has 64 active football members and 17 applying members. In basketball there are 37 active members and 21 applying members. We are always in need of new members to help fulfill the demand for game officials. Work on getting a new member. Keep an application available and give one to those critics who are around.

Plan to attend the Meeting/Banquet: The meeting will be held Monday, November 6th, and the banquet will be on Thursday, November 9th. A reminder that the cost will be $15.00 per plate for your guest.

Flowers: The Association sent flowers to the following members and honorary members-Bill Brousard (mother), Tom Pumroy (mother), Len Ranson (wife).

John Mills retiring: After serving many high schools and colleges, John Mills is hanging up his whistle after 40-plus years officiating. Congratulations to John on his fine career. He was a trainer for the Association with the basketball officials for many years. He was active in the discussion on basketball rules at our rules meeting. We will miss John. He had an eye operation this past summer.

Don't forget to send in your 2001 Football Schedule.