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TOMMY
MATTOCKS
HALL
OF FAME
Background: On January 9,
2009, Tommy Mattocks was inducted into
his first Hall of Fame and it was a life changing experience. It gave him a new appreciation for what
others thought, how people should be
treated and how hard work can pay off.
With that mindset, he set out to
try to do the same for some of the people that had worked so hard for him and
with him. In late January and early
February of that year, he began to outline in his mind some of the things he
wanted to accomplish with his own Hall of Fame award. By June, he had decided to make it happen. He
began to tinker with how the plaque should read and who some of the first
people he would honor should be. In July,
the idea was almost put on hold.
Mattocks began to have second thoughts about how some of his officials
might feel if they were left out of the Hall.
Not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, the plan was put on
hold. August saw registrations come in and the idea was still in the
forefront of his mind. In early
September, Mattocks, thinking if everyone worried about feelings, there would
not be any Hall of Fames; so he went
ahead with the dream, ordered the Plaques and the rest is history. The Inaugural Class was inducted on Nov 8,
2009 at
Part I The Classes: In order of their induction:
Inaugural
Class of 2009
1. HARRY EDWARDS
2. DENNIS ARINELLO
3. ANTHONY MITCHELL
4. LARRY HONEYCUTT
5.
JERRY JOHNSON
6. FAYE MATTOCKS
Class of 2010
7.
JOEL HARRIS (1936
– 2004)
8.
SHAWN WILLIAMS
9.
J. C. REYNOLDS
10. JUNIOR CREECH
11. RICHARD COSTNER
12.
Class
of 2011
13.
MIKE BROWN
14.
MIKE FREDETTE
15.
RONNIE
16.
ROBERT FARLEY
17.
CHARLIE
18.
HAROLD LAIL
Class of 2012
19. ERNEST BROWN
20.
ROBERT TALLO
21. WESLEY CARTER
22. LEE MILLER
23.
BRIAN SCHULTZ
24. MIKE MONTFORD
Class of 2013
25.
GERALD MARKS
26. RICHARD GOLDSBY
27. RO N FLY
28. BARRY VALICEK
29. JENE COOK
30. BILL CLINGAN
Class of 2014
31. PRESTON BOONE
32. BOBBY BLACK
33. DAVID FALLIN
34. TERRI MOHR
35. MIKE RUSSO
36. MIKE GERICS
Part II The Plaque: -The inscription on the plaque reads:
TOMMY MATTOCKS
HALL
OF FAME
PRESENTED TO
RECIPIENT’S
NAME
FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM
TO
BASKETBALL OFFICIATING, THE EOA BOOKING
OFFICE
AND FOR YOUR LOYALTY AND SUPPORT OF
TOMMY MATTOCKS
INAUGURAL CLASS OF 2009
Part III
The Members: In alphabetical order, the induction speech
by Tommy Mattocks with the class and date:
DENNIS ARINELLO, Inaugural
Class of 2009, Nov 8, 2009
Dennis Arinello has not refereed a game in the Eastern Officials Association in over 10 years but his legacy still burns bright in this organization. His last game was in 1998, but the Referees he taught and the people he touched still play a vital part in the leadership and the training of the officials in this association.
In my opinion, his most amazing feat has to be taking Bobby Black under his wing as a mentor when Bobby had never refereed a High School game. He hounded Bobby and rode him almost to the point that Black would want to quit. Just four short years later Arinello and Black along with another protégé, Peter Ellis, refereed the State Championship game in the Dean Dome. That is a feat I think will never be matched again. Before Dennis left, he molded Bobby Black into one of the best clinic leaders ever, thus leaving the Association better off than he came in.
When I took over, he was JV
official full of piss and vinegar, all he knew was the players were not going
to beat him to the other end. But boy was he ever a fast learner. He quickly saw the light. He became a clinic leader and then both he
and
When everyone else was holding 8 clinics,
Dennis started holding 18. When you saw
a new official for the first time with excellent mechanics, you knew Dennis had
something to do with him and he was from
Arinello was the first official I ever noticed that would stop the clock, call a foul and chop the clock with the arm that was on the side of the table. For example, if the table was to his right, he used his right hand and arm. If the table was on his left, he used his left arm. Not many can do that today, but he started that here over ten years ago. He was also the first person I ever heard use a phrase that I copied and use often today. I was sitting in his class lecture at camp one summer and he told that class something that I will never forget. He said:
DO THE MINIMUM, EXPECT THE MINIMUM. Wow, it does not get much clearer than that.
We became extremely good friends and I count myself very fortunate that we got to run up and down the court together many times in the Carolinas Conference college games. He taught this old dog a lot of new tricks and I am forever grateful.
Let’s look at Arinello’s career:
Camp Counselor 7 times, including first one, 91 (2), 95, 96, 97, 98, 99
Good test taker, first several years in the low 90s, last 5 years in high 95 or better
3 time Regional official 88, 90, 98
2 time State Championship official 90, 98
Dennis Arinello will be
remembered as the first ever recipient of the Distinguished Service Award 1996.
When Dick Knox decided to start this award, he told us at a Booking Agent
meeting in March and he wanted to give the award in November, so I had to name
the first recipient. At the time, I
simply had to decide who was the most worthy of all my officials. Who had done the most to promote the
association. Who had done the most to improve the association. Who had done the most to help the officials
of the association. In 1996, that was a no-brainer and the easiest decision I
ever made. It was Dennis Arinello.
RONNIE
Ronnie Battle is one of those
people who will work their butt off for you but does not want any credit. He had rather do the work behind the scene
than to be the one out in front of the camera.
For example, he goes to every
Take the Referee situation in
He has been in the association all 27 years, from 1984 to the present.
Ronnie went to the State
Championships back in 2004
before he got hurt. I am
glad we were able to get that in for hopefully a moment he will remember.
Let’s look at Ronnie’s career:
1 time Regional official, 04
1 time State Championship official 04
Camper 1 Time, 91
Unlike most people, when they get
out of refereeing, they quit completely. We are delighted that even though Ronnie
is not actively calling right now; he chose to stay involved and help the young
officials in
One of the nicest, most sincere guys you will ever meet who does not want any credit. But he can’t run and hide from the people that know and see his work. I hope all of you get a chance to know Ronnie Battle.
BOBBY BLACK, Class of 2014, Nov 2, 2014
Bobby Black was in association just 9 years, 1994 – 2003; but what an impact he made. A
Very Dear friend
Dennis talked Bobby into
joining the association and Bobby was Dennis’ own personal punching bag. Dennis was all over Bobby for every single
little thing Bobby ever did or thought about doing. I have never seen a man pound someone so hard as Dennis was on Bobby. I seriously do not know why Black did not
quit.
And then Bam. Like Lightning, there was
a big flash and instantly, the light came on. I have never in my life seen one
man improve and take off so fast as Bobby Black did.
He went for an unknown walk on to the State Championship game in the Dean Dome
in just 4 short years. That is unheard of in the annuls of
Basketball Refereeing. He had a 30 year
career in just 4
years.
Bobby made this Hall of Fame
for three reasons. 1) What he accomplished as an official; 2) What
he accomplished as a clinic leader; 3) What he left behind as a mentor to
the officials of
Bobby Black is simply put, one
of the nicest guys you will ever want to meet. Once started, he was eat up with Refereeing. He taught everyone he could get
around, he was at every camp, every golf tournament, every
game when he was not calling and he held more clinics in
Bobby probably emailed me
more than the other clinic leaders combined. He picked my thoughts, he wanted
to know about his officials and he was always sending in reports on his people.
While he was there, I knew more about the
He went to camp as a camper in 94, 95 & 96 and then as a Counselor in 98, 99, 00,
01. He talked more officials from
He was always reading
publications and scanning the internet for any information he could print out
and carry to a meeting. He saved every
article I ever sent out and he compiled it in a notebook and he shared it with all
the officials in
He truly is one of a kind and
we miss his talents dearly.
He transferred to
A Look at Bobby’s Career
Camper 3 times, 94; 95; & 96 where
he finished 2nd
Camp Counselor 4 times, 98, 99, 00, 01
Excellent test taker, in 9
tests, one below 90, rest in mid to high 90s or better with one 100.
3 time Regional official, 98,
02, 03
2 time State Championship
official, 98, 03
Did not win Distinguished Service Award, I do not
know why?
Many officials come in,
referee for a while and then leave. Very few leave a lasting mark. In the long
line of great
officials from the
It was never a matter of “If” Preston Boone was going to get in this Hall of Fame or not, it was just a matter of WHEN. Boone has always been a good official but his professional attitude and “Giving something back to the Kids” is the trait that wins everyone over to his side. No matter the game or the level, you can count on Boone’s best effort every night out. For that effort, he never gets marked off by a coach; they all respect him too much. With Boone, you always know what you are going to get.
.
I learned early on that Preston was a mentor to the neighborhood kids in his area and that he also worked at Lenoir Community College. With that respect from all his peers as well as his bosses, I knew I needed to tap into that asset and use it to the Eastern Officials advantage. He had success right off and all the officials loved him as well as the coaches. Once that happened, his confidence rose and he was soon helping all the young officials around him. He simply “Could get along with PEOPLE” and we all know everyone can’t do that. He had that knack of talking TO people without talking down to them. Young officials followed him and wanted to be like him.
In my style of booking, I like to book Kinston Officials with other towns and it was not long before I was getting requests for Jacksonville, Goldsboro, Havelock and all around, “I want a game with Preston Boone”. Everyone would tell me after their game that they enjoyed both the game and the trip. Did I say, he keeps something going all the time. If he does not go to sleep on you in the Car; you are going to laugh all the way to the game and back. He is just a great guy and one I will remember and be thankful that we crossed paths.
Preston is getting close to
retiring from Refereeing but I keep begging.
Oh, we could get someone to call his game in a heartbeat; but we can
never replace the Man in him and the impact that he has on so many other
people. For that, we don’t ever want him
to retire, so we keep begging, “Come on
Let’s look at Preston’s career:
He has refereed as a member of the EOA for 25 seasons
2 time Regional official, 96, 03
Camper 3 Times, 92, 93, 94
Preston is one of those officials that when he walks in the door, he will gather a crowd. Everyone wants to listen to what he has to say both about basketball as well as about all the junk that he talks. He is sincere and professional; but he is also the life of the party. Every Association needs a leader, a man that everyone admires, wants to call with and wants to be around. We have our man, Preston Boone
ERNEST BROWN, Class of 2012, Nov 4, 2012
Ernest Brown has been in the
Association all 28 years. He is a
dedicated as well as a motivated official who does not wait for someone else to
teach him. He goes out and gets it on
his own. That is backed up by all the College Staffs that Brown has been on as
well as all the College Playoff games he has called over the years. Yet it is his work with the local people that
we are honoring tonight. He has always been willing to share what he knows with
others. Even when he was not the Clinic
Leader in
When I decided to run a referee camp, I asked Ernest if he wanted to take a week off work and teach young officials how to referee. Brown was a counselor at the first six camps we held helping to make that venture a success. He has a knack of getting his point across without yelling and making the official feel comfortable. Brown later took some time off our camp circuit to pursue his own college dream. He went to college camps as a camper, but he knew what to do as a camper to get noticed with his own experience as a counselor. Brown’s college career surged until he began to have knee problems. We are sorry that Brown’s college career had to suffer but are delighted that he continues to be involved on the high school level.
Ernest was appointed as Clinic
Leader in
Let’s look at Mike’s career:
4 time Regional official, 90, 94, 06, 10
2 time State Championship official 94, 10
1 Time East/ West Game 99
Selected for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2006
Brown does not mind disagreeing with me but it is never
personal; he just has his opinion and I have mine. Yet we have always been able to work past the
disagreements and come out stronger on the other side. He will state his opinion and over the years,
I have come to the conclusion that most of the time, I need to listen. I
consider us good friends. Ernest Brown
MIKE BROWN, Class of 2011, Nov 6, 2011
Mike Brown was one of the very
first officials to transfer from another area (
He has been in the association for 24 years, from 1988 to the present. Mike excels as a teacher in the calm manner in which you can sit down and talk to him. Honeycutt and Brown are in charge of the biggest group in our association with over 40 officials in the last couple years and they manage them with the professionalism that brings the most out of them.
Most officials are extremely fortunate as well as lucky to referee in a State Championship. Mike Brown has been to the big dance twice for a State Championship game. Mike has also called a State Championship in football as well but I do not have those stats in that sport.
Let’s look at Mike’s career:
4 time Regional official, 91, 01, 05, 10
2 time State Championship official 01, 10
1 Time North/ South Game in
Selected for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2007
Brown is an easy person to get along with and his demeanor is one of his strong points. He does not get excited and is able to always get his point across when talking to young officials. He relates to them and they respect him for his words of wisdom.
He looks laid back, but get to know him and you will find out that he is passionate about his officiating, Mike Brown.
WESLEY CARTER, Class of 2012, Nov 4, 2012
Wesley Carter became a very good official simply because he had a drive and “The Look”. When he started, he did not know much about officiating but he could run, he was tall and had “That Look” about him. In addition, he had the drive and the passion to work hard at it. While he appears to be laid back; when it comes to officiating, he is as eager to excel as anyone. Most people go to camp one time and quit, saying “OK, I went to camp, where are my Games”. Not Wesley, he wanted to know it all. He went to our referee camp 3 times and then went to several college camps. He simply wanted to know all he could. Carter was invited to be a camp counselor at our camp and accepted. He was a counselor for 8 straight camps but had to end that streak this summer when his job got in the way.
After becoming a
At camp, each of our counselors teach a class. Wesley’s class is always one of the most talked about. I can hear him saying in that class right now, “You have to work hard, you have to work hard” but he says it with a low voice and in such a way that you are ready to run through the wall to get to the court and start right now. Carter is an excellent teacher.
Wesley’s clinic area is one of the smallest in the association, but he goes after it full speed.. His gentle hand and demeanor allows the official to learn and progress at a tempo they understand and that group just gets better and better. Carter has called it all in High School; State Championships, Regionals and North/ South games. And I understand Wesley has jumped into umpiring Football. I am confident that in time, he will excel in that sport as well because he will do whatever it takes.
Let’s look at Wesley’s career:
3 time Regional official, 00, 05, 09
2 time State Championship official 05, 09
1 Time North/ South Game in
Camper 3 Times, 96, 97, 98
Selected for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2009
Wesley Carter is one of the nicest and most appreciative people you will ever be around. He is a professional and will do what it takes. We are lucky to have Wesley Carter.
Earnest has been in the association 16 years 94 - present
He is a very good friend; extremely smart and well grounded. He has philosophies and opinions on politics, money, and numerous other things that he could hold clinics on if asked. He knows basketball is serious business to the coaches and players but he knows it’s place in his life.
The very first time I ever saw
him work, he
could referee. We did not teach him a
lot, he was
already there. When he transferred in to our association, he did not try to
change us, he
did not say, that’s not the way we did it in
He was smart and he did exactly
what a new official should do. He
quickly found the leaders in his area and he hounded them for info on our association and Our
way. He was running with Jerry Johnson
and Richard Costner and he zoomed to the top of the leaderboard.
When Jerry Johnson stepped down, Cave was there to take over the number
one spot of molding the young minds in the
His opinion is not always mine, but that is not a bad thing. I did not always change to his thinking, but I can say I always listened. And his write-ins to the Opinion Poll Questions were always some of the most talked about opinions on the web page. He does not mix words. He tells you what he thinks in very short terms and you always know where he stands.
Earnest has been a supporter of everything we have tried to do and there are very few that have worked any harder to make this an outstanding association. I have him in the position to teach and be the role model and mentor for his area.. He is a Clinic Leader and a member of the Board. I need his opinions and leadership to keep this association headed in the right direction.
Cave takes his refereeing serious and does not put up with a lot of fuss from the coaches. He is all business on that floor and most of the coaches have learned not to test him. He has that knack as well as that image. Without being overberaring, he is “In Charge”.
Without a doubt, he is one of the
best rules men in the association. If
Camp 1995/ 5
Camp Counselor 2008, 2009, 2010
Let’s look at his career:
4 time Regional official 97, 01, 05, 09
1 time State Championship official 01
He is another prime example that
if you are good in one sport,
you will be good in other sports because you will do the same
thing in every sport that it takes to
excel.. Just a model official,
BILL CLINGAN, Class of 2013,
Nov
3, 2013
Listen up, this is one of the most meaningful inductions for me personally that I have ever performed. I could stand up here and tell you that this man has 325 wins and was the longest tenured Basketball Coach in the history of Mt Olive College with over 18 years as Head Coach and 2 years as Assistant Coach. I could go on and on about 5 NCAA Post Season appearances, 3 Conferences Titles, Top 10 National Rankings, or that he was voted Coach of the Year in 2004/ 05. You probably already know that he was inducted in the Mt Olive College Hall of Fame in 2008. Bet you did not know he was the Kiwamian of the Year in Mt Olive, that’s certainly a title of Respect. But I want to spend our time telling you about how he is connected with Tommy Mattocks, the Eastern Officials Association and why he is being inducted into my Hall of Fame.
Someone once said, “I can’t define the word CLASS, but I know it when I see it”. My friends, you are looking at it right there. Bill Clingan is First Class, always has and always will be. I started refereeing in the Carolinas Conference in the late 70s so I was a pretty well established veteran by the time Bill Clingan was named Head Coach at Mt Olive in 1990. He did not act like a coach; he did not rant and rave or cuss like a coach. He was calm and well mannered on the side lines. “This guy will never last”, we all said. Well last he did, for 18 seasons and he touched the lives of more people around here than you will ever know. I am included on this list. I had to change my whole perception of a coach. He didn’t yell and scream like the rest of em. But when he said something to you, you needed to listen and you did. In a nice low calm tone, he would say, “Tommy, you need to take a look at their center, he is pushing us in the back”. Then he would sit down. How do you react to that ? I’ll tell you how, You take a look at their center like he asked.
For some reason, Bill Clingan took a liking to Tommy Mattocks. When he decided to run a National Exposure
Team Camp at Mt Olive in 1991, instead of bringing in a Larry Rose or a Fred Barakat to run his referee camp, he asked me. I jumped all over that and the rest is
history. I remember one year, Coach Ron
Miller had Jeff Capell and Jerry Stackhouse on the
same team at camp. Because of my relations with Bill Clingan,
there has been a Basketball Referee Camp every year since 1991 except one year.
Through that camp, I
got to renew friendships with such coaches as Ron Miller from Southview. I got to
make new friendships with out of State Coaches such as Dale Burns from
Through all the games I got to called and through all the camps we had at Mt Olive, I got to be friends with Coach Clingan’s wife and two sons. She loves those “Fireballs”, she would stop walking around the track to get a Fireball. I certainly carry more away with this relationship that Bill Clingan does. I am a better man just by being around and associating with him. I have such an admiration for this man and we keep crossing paths because he continues to show up in gyms across our area; when I see him clear across the court, I am making my way over there just to speak and say “Hi”. He is NOT getting out of that gym without speaking to me, he means that much to Tommy Mattocks.
Because of Bill Clingan, we have a camp today. Because of this man, we get to referee the Green & White game every year at Mt Olive College. Because of this man, we are refereeing the Freshman Team games at Mt Olive College every year since he started that program. Would you join me in welcoming and inducting our first ever coach into the Tommy Mattocks Hall of Fame; one of my favorite people, Coach Bill Clingan.
JENE COOK, Class of 2013, Nov 3, 2013
I did not know Jene Cook when he first showed up at our Referee Camp in 2001. He was just a man from another area who decided to come to our Referee Camp at Mt Olive College. Jene soon caught our eye as he improved to the point that he was the best official there and was voted as the Outstanding Camper of that year. Then after camp, he was gone. He did not referee with us in 2001 or even the year after. It would be 2004, a full 3 years later until he settled down and joined our association. I was sure glad to register someone who had finished number 1 at camp as a new official into our group. Those don’t come to you every day.
Jene
has been a valuable official for us out of the
Cook is constantly trying to
improve and help others around him improve. He is not only willing to work
recreation ball for me in
Let’s look at Jene’s career:
Joined EOA in 2004
1 time Regional official, 10
Camp 1 Time, 01 Finished Number 1
Jene Cook is a very smart man. He worked as a Computer Technician with the Suddenlink Cable and Internet Service. He was one of the men you talked to on the phone when you had problems with your TV or Internet Service. But what was much better than that is he volunteered to help me anytime. If it was 10:00pm at night and I had a computer problem, call him. If it was Sunday evening at 4:00pm, call him. You can not know how relieved that made me feel. I had a Pro on Call. And man, I bet he wishes he had never volunteered because I have called him plenty. As my computers aged, I had to call him more. But as I upgraded, I did not know how to operate the new stuff so I called some more. Jene Cook is solely responsible for keeping the computers in the EOA office up and running. He would take old computers and make them run. He would take new computers and set them up. My life as a booking agent has been made a lot easier with Jene Cook around.
RICHARD COSTNER, Class of 2010, Nov 7, 2010
Richard has been in the association 26 years 84 - present
He is a very good friend
This is one of the few people that I knew before refereeing. We did not play against each other in High School, but we did do battle many many times in adult league tournaments in Kinston, Goldsboro, Wilson and especially the old Gold Medal tournament in Rocky Mount. Slim could play; if you wanted to win, you could never stop him but you had to slow him down a little. Did I say he could play; Slim could play and he had old Tank Boykin to get him the ball.
When I took over, he was a very eager and self conscious official who just wanted to do it the right way. He quickly found the right people like Don Barnes, W D McRoy and yes, Jerry Johnson to help him and he made it to the Varsity level fast.
Slim did not stop with his own success, he has had a hand in helping and pushing the young officials in his area by being the perfect role model; He does as he says. In other words, he does not tell anyone to do anything that he does not do.
Slim has backed me at every turn. He has been a supporter of everything we have tried to do and there are very few that have worked any harder to make this an outstanding association. That is the quality I most admire in him and that is the reason I have him in the position to influence and dictate policy in our Association. He is a Clinic Leader and a member of the Board. I need his opinions and leadership to keep this association headed in the right direction.
When
Just like his golf, Slim takes his refereeing serious and does not put up with a lot of fuss from the coaches. He is all business on that floor and most of the coaches have learned not to test him. He has that knack.
Let’s look at his career:
Average to good test taker
3 time Regional official 89, 04, 09
2 time State Championship official 04, 09
One of the most amazing feats
about Costner is his ability to stay in shape. He controls his weight
magnificently and presents a professional image on the floor second to
none. Richard umpires both Football and
Baseball and is outstanding on both those fields as well. Just a model official, “Let’s Go to Work” Richard
Costner
JUNIOR CREECH, Class of 2010, Nov 7, 2010
Creech was in association for 14 years 1984 – 98.
He left our association when his professional career in Education made his
departure to our
I consider him a very Good Friend
He went to all the camps, when we were just getting started with the camps, as a counselor while he was an official with us.
AAA Minor League Baseball Umpire; and still calls ACC Baseball Umpire still
today. I always wanted to umpire a
Baseball game with him but the closest I ever got was a couple of Softball
games in the Carolina Telephone Tournament in
Several College Basketball staffs
Including Big South and
I called many college games with him, he was as smooth as any you have seen. One of the things I admired most about Junior, he was a big time college official but when he refereed our games, he always used High School Mechanics. He was always aware that some official that he taught in camp just might be watching. He had pride in his mechanics.
Junior must have been on the
track team back in high school; I will never forget riding to a game in
Loved to be in a crowd of people talking basketball, he would stay there all night if you would, which always led to someone in the crowd asking him to tell his favorite joke about the Truck Driver and his big rig hauling down the road and he would expand on the changing of the gears so loud, it would wake the dead.
He was an excellent test taker, out of 14 tests, he only had one in 80s, rest mostly 95 and above.
Played in many of our golf tournaments
3 time Regional official, 86, 89, 96
1 time State Championship official 1996
1 All Star official 1992
HARRY EDWARDS, Inaugural Class of 2009, Nov 8, 2009
When I was named Booking Agent
for the southern half of the old Northeastern Association, the first person I
went to for advice was the former booking agent, John Grimsley. He sat there in his living room and told me
the future of my organization was two men in
He has been in the association all 25 years, from 1984 to the present. He has become through the years, probably my best friend. There is not anything I would not do for him and I feel pretty sure he feels the same way about me.
Harry is the only person that has been to every Referee Camp; he has been to every Jamboree Scrimmage for new officials and he is the only official to play in every golf tournament. Edwards travels with me to 90% of the local clinics when I visit at the beginning of each season. If we have something for the referees, he is there. I really like to refer to him as MR EOA. He is as proud of this association and he works just as hard to promote it as I do.
Even though it is not his job, he basically knows every official in the association with the exception of a couple of new officials. He has either seen them work at camp, the New Officials jamboree scrimmage or in person working behind them. He is the most requested official that the general group tells me they want to work with. Everyone says, “Give me a game with Harry”
As a test taker, he was just average the first five years, but the last 20, wow, he has usually been 95 or better. I have thanked my lucky stars that he did not apply for the position of Booking Agent, he probably would have done a much better job than I ever could. I have also said when I give it up, he would be a logical choice as my replacement since he already knows everyone and their ability; unfortunately for him, I stayed too long.
A little known fact, back in
1996, I was hired to Book the Baseball
games for the Kinston Recreation Department and I had never called a baseball
game in my life. The very first thing I
did when I got that job was to call Harry. The former ACC Baseball Umpire took
me and my crowd to the Little League Baseball Field at
Let’s look at some of his accomplishments:
6 time Regional official 87, 89, 96, 02, 06, 09
3 time State Championship official 89, 96, 02
2 time All Star official, 91, 07
First ever elected official for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 1997
Refereed State Championship game on One Tree Hill
And in the last several years, he has become well known on the Private School circuit
I give you
Harry Edwards
DAVID FALLIN, Class of
2014, Nov 2, 2014
David Fallin is what I like to refer to as a Blue Collar worker. He has had to work hard for everything he has and he made the most of his opportunities. After going to our Referee Camp and getting noticed for his size and his “Look”, he just exploded on the scene. He did a lot of self study and then got in his car and rode to other far off Camps just to improve. He built his house with a solid foundation of mechanics and rules knowledge that carried him to the top everywhere he went. He is dedicated and knows what he wants. He has always been willing to do whatever it takes.
With his approach and passion for the game, he was always going to be my next choice as clinic leader in Wilmington if Honeycutt or Brown ever gave that up. He is the type that I want in every town to teach and mentor the young officials. He leads by example. I am glad David would still pitch in at the Clinics and the Scrimmages to back what the local leaders were preaching.
If you look around, most officials once they make a college staff, want to come back and SHOW EVERYONE they are a College Official. Many start talking down to High School Coaches and let their mechanics slide or just completely vanish. Fallin did not do that. He still went through all the preparations and procedures we were asking of him and would gladly help the young officials around him. He led by example. When taking the court for a High School Game, he always had impeccable mechanics, he treated the coaches with respect, his hair and his uniform was always in place and he hustled. He was a Model High School official even thou he was refereeing a lot of college ball. That is the reason he has been to the Regionals three times and called two State Championships.
Fallin also participates in a lot of the extra activities of the EOA. He plays in all our Golf Tournaments and always eats with the crowd when I visit the local clinic. He includes his wife Sherri and you see them at the Regionals and State Championship games even when he is not officiating. David really seems to have it all together.
Let’s look at David’s career:
3 time Regional official, 08, 11, 13
2 time State Championship official 08, 13
1 Time East/ West Game 06
1 Time North/ South Game in
Camper 2 Times, 01, 02
Fallin was not satisfied with being one of the
best High School Officials, He took it upon himself to go to several College Camps
and he was picked up on a couple of staffs. The thing that I am the most proudest of is that he did not bring those college mechanics
back to our game. David still has some of the best High School mechanics
around. Thank you for that, David Fallin.
ROBERT FARLEY, Class of 2011, Nov 6, 2011
I like to think of Robert Farley
as the Blue Collar Company man. He is all for the Eastern Officials Association
and what ever they want to do. If it is
Basketball, he is there as one of our clinic leaders but that is not a Monday
or Tuesday night job only. He is in the rec gym on
Saturday mornings teaching new officials where to stand. If it is golf, he is
the first to sign up. If it is summer
training, he is hosting and running the East Coast Invitational Jamboree or the
BLAST as we call it. Then he packs his
bag and goes to camp for a week as one of our trusted
He learned from the right people
before him, Dennis Arinello, Bobby Black and Shawn
Williams, and he has carried on that tradition of excellence that they started
without missing a beat. Robert is just
one of those guys that you can not help but like. And he gives you his best no
matter the endeavor he is after. As long
as Robert Farley is in
The TMRC Camp Notebook is a fine
example of Farley’s work effort. On his
own, he gathers all that information, runs it off,
punches the holes, puts it in order and buys a notebook to put it in. In addition, he personalizes every notebook
with each camper’s name. This year’s
At the Tommy Mattocks Golf Tournaments, Robert is one of the first there with Ice, Beverages and Sodas. He is always going to pull more that his load and he does it because he loves being around people that he has something in common with. That would be the Game of Basketball and the avocation of Basketball Refereeing.
Most officials are extremely
fortunate as well as lucky to referee one State Championship. Farley has two of those on his resume now and
he has also made the trip to
Let’s look at Robert’s career:
3 time Regional official, 01, 05, 11
2 time State Championship official 01, 11
1 Time North/ South Game in
Camper 2 Times, 98, 99
Selected for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2008
Remember the Blast, we almost lost
that. Farley thought it was so important
for the training of the young officials in
I told you he was a company man, Give him a job and it will get done. There are some very special people in this world and there is a special place in the Eastern Officials Association for Robert Farley.
RON FLY, Class of 2013, Nov 3, 2013
Ron Fly has only been in our association for five years. That seems like a very short time to make someone’s Hall of Fame and I agree. However, on occasion, it becomes the quality of time instead of the Quantity of time. He refereed all his life over in the Northeastern Association and was one of the leaders of that group. With them he called everything. He got the rivalries and he got more than his share of the big playoff games. He has been to the State Championships numerous times and he has had the East West games. He won their Distinguished Service Award. He has been there and done it all for the other man. When he joined our association, he could have come in with an attitude and a big head. But he did not do that. He did all the right things. He did not come in and try to change us. Instead, he came in and did his utmost to find out how we did things. He sat in the back of clinics and “Listened”. He had the background to take over, but he wanted to fit in. And he did.
But I knew he would. I have been knowing
Ron Fly since 1972 when I met him when I was working for John Grimsley out of
Everyone by now knows I believe if you are good in one sport, you will be good in others because you will do the same thing in both sports that make you excel. Ron Fly will get along with a Basketball Coach, a Baseball Coach, a Volleyball Coach or a Soccer Coach. He will be a friend and try to help any official in any sport. He will simply do what it takes.
He has been a big supporter of the Eastern Officials Association even before he arrived simply because he was a friend. He asked me if I needed any help with our Summer Referee Camp and was volunteering to do anything. He would keep the drinks iced, erased the board, run after papers. He just wanted to help. But I already had other ideas. I really wanted to introduce the real Ron Fly to my officials. I wanted them to know the person I knew, the person who could not do enough to help anyone. I made him a full fledged Counselor instead of mis-using his talents. He is one of the most liked counselors at camp. Everyone talks about his classroom style with his “Game Management” Topic.
While he has an envious career of stats with the Northeastern Group; Let’s look at his stats in the EOA:
Joined the EOA in 2008
1 time Regional official 2012 North/ South Official in 2013
A friend is someone you call and check up on. Ron is that type person. We talk on the phone almost every day and it is not always about Basketball or Baseball. We genuinely care about each other. I always knew he would be in my Hall of Fame. It was never “If”; it was only a matter of “When”. The timing is right and I am proud to welcome Ron Fly into my elite group.
MIKE FREDETTE, Class of 2011, Nov 6, 2011
Mike Fredette holds the record for the most times at camp (7) as a camper, but it was not because he was a slow learner or anything near that. He is a dedicated official who just wants to be the best he can be. He thoroughly enjoyed camp, making friends and getting better as an official. He was also determined to get on a college staff and really dressed up his mechanics for that pursuit. He did it the right way, he became one of the best High School Officials before he tried to get on that College Staff.
After the 2000 camp, I invited him to be a counselor at the 2001 camp. I figured absolutely no one in the association knew more about what I wanted than a man that had heard me for seven years. He was an excellent teacher in his first role as a counselor. Mike is the type that dissects everything in order to understand it. He is meticulous with both the Rule Book and the Case Book and that is the type individual I want in charge. In addition to being a camp counselor, I made him a clinic leader as well.
Fredette is the one single individual responsible for our association web page. When I signed up with East Link to be my internet provider, they told me a personal web page came with it. I did not know what a web page was, how to write it or how to be it published. I had “the idea”, that’s all. Mike took that on as a project and guided me through every process. I would write basically a letter of what I wanted to say and Mike would put it in HTML language so that it would post on the internet using a small disk. I then had to carry that to East Link and beg the owner to put it on for me. Later the owner gave me permission to put it on line myself but again, I did not know how. Mike lead me through that processs until I became able to do everything myself. We owe Mike big time for that association web page, without him, there probably would not be one today. I am proud that with Fredette’s help, we are the ONLY booking agent to publish a WEEKLY NEWS letter every week of the year.
Mike’s clinic area is one of the
smallest in the association, but he gives it every bit as much time as a
Let’s look at Mike’s career:
3 time Regional official, 01, 08, 10
2 time State Championship official 01, 10
1 Time East/ West Game 03
1 Time North/ South Game in
Camper 7 Times, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 00
Selected for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2010
Fredette
has never asked for anything; he just goes about his business like the
professional he is. He gives me the same superior effort that he does with his
computer maintenance job at
MIKE GERICS, Class of 2014, Nov
2, 2014
Mike Gerics has only been in the EOA for 7 years, so how did he get into a Hall of Fame. He simply outworked everyone around him except maybe the Clinic Leaders and the Camp Counselors. I would put his work ethic, his desire and his passion up against anyone else. He has been in 7 years, he has went to camp 7 years to improve. He has not been satisfied to just go to 6 or 8 local clinics in Wilmington. Every year he drives to Kinston, Goldsboro and Jacksonville just to get in extra clinics and study. Every year at camp, most campers referee 14 games. Gerics referees over 30 games every summer because he volunteers for every game that comes up. Whether it be someone that did not show, someone that is late getting there or someone that is injured; he will take their game. He realized a long time ago that every time out on the court is a chance to learn and he took advantage of it.
Gerics calls in the Blast every summer in Jacksonville. He volunteers to work the New Officials Scrimmage in Jacksonville every November, especially if we run short. And he volunteered to be in the Training Video that we put on HUDL a couple of years ago for every official to see to show the EOA Mechanics. He was willing to give himself up to criticism from all the officials in the Association who would view that training video and see any mistakes he made because he believed in the end result of that video.
Gerics is as passionate about mechanics as I am. He is in charge of training referees for Ultimate Frisbee and decided to use some of our Basketball Mechanics in their game to help the officials look better on that field. Mike’s use of mechanics has got him noticed by the powers that be in the National Ultimate Frisbee Union and he has been to several States umpiring some of their tournaments.
Mike decided to try his luck and went to a College Basketball Referee Camp. His outstanding mechanics immediately got him noticed by that college supervisor and he is now calling some college ball. Yet, that success certainly has not dampened his desire to have and use the correct High School Mechanics in our game.
Let’s look at Mike’s career:
No Regionals
No State Championships
1 Time North/ South Game in Myrtle Beach 2013
Camper 7 Times, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 *That’s every year that he has been an official
Mike Gerics feels the same way I do about mechanics and truly takes pride in his. As a matter of fact, I suspect Mike could teach mechanics, he knows what I want that well.. While he has only been in the Association for 7 years, I have been extremely impressed and wish I had a hundred officials like him. All this leads up to why I want the last official in my Hall of Fame to be Mike Gerics.
RICHARD GOLDSBY, Class of 2013, Nov 3, 2013
Richard Goldsby is such a polite young man and just a pleasure to be around. He is a role model in how he conducts himself and the way he speaks to and treats people. It is no wonder that all those traits landed him a job as a Pastor of a local church. He is a “People Person” through and through.
But we want to talk about refereeing as well. Goldsby is not one to simply ask someone about a solution to a rules question. He takes the initiative to look it up for himself to make sure he is getting the right answer. He has kept his weight down and has the image of a professional referee. He has the perfect combination: He looks like an official, he knows the rules and he has the skills to talk to a coach. That is the formula for success.
When I needed a counselor to replace Shawn Williams for our referee camp, I did not have to go far. Goldsby had been to camp three times as an official and knew what we were teaching and looking for. We offered him a position as counselor on the staff and he jumped on it and did a whale of a job that first year. We immediately asked him back and he has a job there as long as he wants it. He relates well with the campers and talks to them in such a manner that they appreciate his instructions and tips.
One of the best characteristics about Richard Goldsby is that he practices what he preaches in both life and officiating. In life, I have never heard him curse. He is such a fine outstanding person as in refereeing. We are preaching mechanics and Goldsby’s mechanics are superb. He chops the clock, he gets his spots correct and he helps his fellow officials. And he is most appreciative of anything you do for him. He is always thanking me for giving him a game or an opportunity when I am the one who should be doing the “Thanking” because he is making me look good. We have the perfect relationship.
Let’s look at Richard’s career:
Joined the EOA in 2001
3 time Regional official, 07, 11, 13
Camp Official 3 times 02, 03, 04 In 2004, Goldsby finished as the # 1 camper that year.
Camp Counselor 2 Times, 12, 13 Has a standing invitation for as long as he wants
What more can I say about Richard Goldsby. Even if I was not a referee or if he was not a referee, he is still the type person you need to be around and call a friend. The world simply needs some more Richard Goldsby’s.
JOEL HARRIS, (1936 – 2004) Class of 2010, Nov 7, 2010
Joel Harris was only in the Eastern Officials Association for 2 years, but he was my running mate for over 14 years.
The Fans called him Conway and Elvis because of his unique hair style, but that did not bother him one bit.
A Very Dear friend, whom I met soon after I joined the High School Ranks. As soon as I became a Varsity official, my booking agent, John Grimsley paired me probably 75 to 80 % will Joel Harris and we hit it off immediately. We both were just alike. We had a passion for the game and we had pride in what we did and what we looked like. Nearly every Referee story that I tell before becoming Booking Agent involves a game with Joel Harris.
Joel Harris was a dream to work with. He knew the rules and he used proper mechanics. He made me want to be a better official just to try to keep up with him. I learned so much about Refereeing from him and he did not even know it. I would watch him and tell myself, “I want to be just like him”. He was so smooth and comfortable on the court.
He had a relationship with coaches where he never had to call a Tech on them. He could talk them into doing anything he wanted. They knew they were going to get his best game and if they thought he missed a call, they could forgive him because he was working so hard for them.
Joel Harris made this Hall of Fame for
three reasons. 1) What he accomplished as an official; 2) The
affect and influence he had on me personally; 3) What he left behind as a mentor to
the officials of
Joel Harris not only liked me as an official. He liked me as a person. He was a scratch golfer that won the club championship numerous times at Falling Creek. At the time, I was about an 85 average golfer, but he would sacrifice his first pick of a good golfer to select me first just so we could be on the same team.
He never went to camp since he retired in 1985 and camp did not start til 1991, but he would have. I would have had him in that first group of counselors molding the young officials. He only worked for me two seasons after I became the Booking Agent. But during that time, I sent promising officials off with Joel Harris for one reason; I wanted them to see what a true official was and I wanted his habits to wear off on my up and coming officials.
Joel lived in Deep Run and after
he retired from actively refereeing, I got him a pass and he would go to the
games at
Joel was an excellent test taker, always making in the mid 90s.
Regional official in 1985, the very first year I had a selection. Joel Harris, Howard Luttrell and Larry Honeycutt represented the EOA
Joel was named after the Cowboy Western Movie Star Joel McCrae and McCrae was his middle name.
In Joel’s early years, he was a Professional Baseball player in the Cubs Minor League Organization as a shortstop. He could never quite break into the Major Leagues because the top brass of the Cubs keep showing favoritism by playing some unknown nobody named Ernie Banks ahead of him.
And man oh man, Joel Harris could hit a golf ball. Left, Right, High, Low, Under a Limb, Around a Tree, Over Water, Out of Sand; he could work magic with that little white ball.
He was a true friend; I think about him often and I miss him terribly.
His Family that he left behind will never forget him and Tommy Mattocks will never forget him.
As long as I have an Internet Web Site, Joel Harris’ name will be right there beside and associated with Tommy Mattocks
Tommy Mattocks just could not have a Hall of Fame without Joel Harris in it.
LARRY HONEYCUTT, Inaugural
Class of 2009, Nov 8, 2009
I knew Larry Honeycutt long
before I got the job as Booking Agent. When
John Grimsley ran the association, Tink Rogers would sit in the same Clinic
Leader meeting as I did and we would have to discuss the officials in our
areas.
He has been in the association all 25 years, from 1984 to the present. Larry is just average as a test taker but he excels as a teacher and runs those clinics well. He is in charge of the biggest group in our association with over 40 officials in the last couple years and he manages them with the professionalism that brings the most out of them.
Most officials are extremely fortunate as well as lucky to referee in a State Championship. Honeycutt is one of only a handful of people to call a State Championship game in three sports. While most do it in Baseball, Basketball and Football; he did it in Football, Basketball and Soccer, I believe going to that State Championship four times. Amazing.
Let’s look at Larry’s career:
5 time Regional official, 85, 90, 99, 03, 07
2 time State Championship official 90, 07
1 Time North/ South Game in
Selected for Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2002
Honeycutt is solely responsible
for getting our camp back to
Simply put, he is one of the nicest, most sincere guys you will ever meet. I hope all of you get a chance to know Larry Honeycutt.
JERRY JOHNSON, Inaugural
Class of 2009, Nov 8, 2009
Jerry Johnson was in our
association for 18 years, from 1984 to 2002. He retired from active refereeing
in this sport for health reasons but he continued to umpire both football and
his passion baseball. But I am most
amazed that he was willing to stick around after actively calling to lead our
clinics in
One of Jerry’s biggest and best assets is his ability to talk, teach and hold your attention. He has that knack to pick any subject and have you listen intently to his every word. Sometimes I think he is like Andy Griffith use to say, “He puts a little sugar on top and some of it would not stand up in court” but you listen and you laugh a lot when he speaks. He is excellent in his clinic presentations and an asset of any organization he belongs.
Jerry’s passion is baseball and
he is an excellent Baseball Umpire, one of the best around. That Ability and personality got him the job
of Baseball Booking agent after Malcolm Sykes retired. He books High School, AAU, American Legion
and some
Everyone by now knows I believe if you are good in one sport, you will be good in others because you will do the same thing in both sports that make you excel. Jerry Johnson was one of the best test takers we had in Basketball while he was calling. He would slip in and out of that top spot for the five year averages as much as any official we had. In 18 tests, he never made a score in the 80s; usually it was 95 and above. Wow.
He has been a big supporter of
the Eastern Officials Association from day one and continues to this day. As treasurer of the
His basic Fundamental teachings in Baseball have guided me to a College Baseball career and a brief Stint in Minor League Professional Baseball in the Carolina League, which still calls me to fill in when one of their umpires needs a day off. I can safely say that I would not have been afforded that opportunity without the lessons and professionalism on a baseball field that I learned personally from Jerry Johnson What he wants and requires you to do in Jr High, High School and College will get you by gracefully in any league or level you call.
I love to repeat one of his favorite expressions; he use to tell: “In his younger days, his eye sight was excellent, in fact so good that he could see around corners”
Let’s look at his stats in Basketball:
3 time Regional official 89, 91, 99
Selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award by association vote in 2001
Jerry Johnson loves to tell that he worked so many games in Baseball, so many in Football and so many in Basketball. I forget the number but as a guess, I will say he works 2696 games in basketball. I tease him all the time but I mean it, I tell him if he ever wants to came back and do 4 more game to round it off to an even 2700, I will book him for free. Jerry Johnson
HAROLD LAIL, Class of 2011, Nov 6, 2011
Let’s be realistic, I know right now, some of you are saying “Harold Lail”. You do not know him as one of my top five referees but I know him as a person that stands second to none in support of this association. There is more to life than being the BEST REFEREE; and Harold knows first hand about supporting a cause and being a friend. So my response is: “Yes, Harold Lail and he probably should have been in with the first class”.
Harold Lail was a Bank Executive before he retired. He was in the association from 1984 – 1995; then he transferred out of the area from 4 years. He returned in 1999 and has been with us continuously ever since.
Harold Lail is a worker, when he believes in something he goes after it. True in his job where he was Bank President at several locations and true in Officiating. He knows the rules and he prepares himself to be in shape for every season. He either runs or walks several miles every day, even in the off season. He knows health is not just a seasonal thing and the best way to be in shape is to stay in shape.
Harold is one of the oldest officials in the association but he is like that Ever- Ready Bunny. He just keeps going and going. He can still keep up with the kids and is always where he is suppose to be .
Harold supports everything we do. He goes to all the clinics; he is the first one to the scrimmages and always does his part and more. He has played in all but two or three of our Golf Tournaments. If we have a meeting, you can count of Harold being there. AND you can always find his entries on Facebook when we have any contest. He loves people and having something in common with everyone. He MAKES time to do it.
Lail is in total support of our Referee Camp and we always get one or two every year as a result of Harold Lail’s endorsement of the camp. He never went to camp, but I guarantee if he were just starting out again, he would be the first to sign up.
Harold not only supports the EOA
every time we call; he also still helps out at the local level. Call him up and tell him you need him, he
will go call a
Harold still attends many of the
local Civic Functions around his home,
He is always reading publications and scanning the internet for any information on officiating, plays or referee news and will forward them to me for my information.
He truly is one of a kind and I have always known that he is in my corner and has my back. I have been very fortunate to have the support and backing of Harold Lail. A Very Dear Friend long before 1984 when I took over
1 time Regional official, ( 2003 ) ; however I think he went to the Regionals at least one time when he spent four years out of our area.
There is Basketball Refereeing and then there are other priorities in life. In this man, I have the best of both worlds, I have a pretty good referee, I truly believe in my heart that there in not anything Harold Lail would not do for Tommy Mattocks and I have a dynamite friend for the rest of my life. I have Harold Lail.
GERALD MARKS, Class of 2013, Nov 3, 2013
Marks joined the Eastern
Officials Association in 1992. Gerald kind of just went through the motions of
being an official the first four or five years of his career. After that, he got serious and really went to
work on his game and his participation with his fellow officials. That’s when things started to happen; in
1999, he went to camp and really began to fit in to our system. It wasn’t long
after that, he was in the Regionals. At first, he just wished it would
happen. After it did not, he took
matters into his own hands and made it happen.
Since then, he has been a model official, participating in everything we
do. If it is summer training, he is
involved with our Referee Clinic in
Marks is active with the Jacksonville Local Clinics as Assistant Clinic Leader in that area. He is one of the officials a new man can come in and lean on to find out what is required and what he can do to get ahead.
He aligned heavily with Bobby
Black and he and Robert Farley have carried on that tradition of excellence to
the classrooms and Saturday “in the gym” training sessions. Gerald has a tough job requiring him to be on
the road a lot, but when he is in town, he is helping the officials in the
At the Tommy Mattocks Golf Tournaments, Gerald always donates something to the tournament. Most of the time, it is the water, but also includes peanuts, tees, golf balls and other items that he can get his hands on. He is one of the first ones there and is an excellent representative of the EOA in all he does.
Most officials are extremely
fortunate as well as lucky to referee one State Championship. Marks has two of
those on his resume now and he has also made the trip to
Let’s look at Gerald’s career:
Joined the EOA in 1992
4 time Regional official, 03, 07, 08, 12
2 time State Championship official 03, 08
1 Time North/ South Game in
Camper 2 Times, 99, 01 In the 01 camp, Gerald finished 3rd and took home one of the trophies
Gerald is the perfect example that people can change. He went from a “Give me” person to a “What can I do to help you” person back in the mid 90s. Now there is no better ambassador for the EOA and “doing it the correct” way than Gerald Marks.
FAYE MATTOCKS, Inaugural
Class of 2009, Nov 8, 2009
Faye Mattocks was involved in the Association long before any of our officials were. She was in the home when we made the decision to apply for the position as Booking Agent. We had been married for 3 years and she knew first hand the passion I had for both basketball and officiating. She was there for the preparations, the interviews and finally the announcement that I had the job. I guess she has been involved in the association 25 1/2 years. She is my best friend and my soul mate.
I will never forget the one liner
she came up with when someone once asked her if she read Tommy’s Web Page: She answered: “No,
I don’t have to, I live it”
She is the mother figure to some of our officials. If it were not for Faye Mattocks, Ernest Brown would be long gone and Ernest will tell you that. Back when Ernest was at his peak, he had so many cancellations due to college games, he would not even call me; he would call Faye. Faye has got him out of more jams than most people can get in.
Then there was the early “Name Withheld”. He would simply disappear of the face of the earth. I would either have a game for him or his game would be approaching and no one had heard from this official.. Faye would hear me say, I have had it, if I don’t hear back from him in the next hour, I am going to replace him in every game he has. Next thing I would hear is Mrs Faye calling Ernest and the words; “Hey Ernest, we got to find this other official and quick”.
She is the sane one in the bunch.
Back in 1984, we did not have the current rule;
booking agents could call games.
I would book myself in every Laney/ New Hanover game, every Southern
Wayne Goldsboro Game and every
Ah, those early Eastern Officials Years before the ARBITER, Faye and I will never forget. Before the ARBITER, I had to print out the assignments on four ply paper. Then each official had a number. Faye had to sit down in the middle of the floor, take the four plys apart, send the top copy to the school; take a copy for the first number and send it to the referee; take the second copy for the second number and send it to the U1 and the final copy went to the U2. That was hard; then they invented colored four ply paper and the task was a little easier. The white copy went to the school, the Blue copy was sent to the referee’s file, the yellow copy for the U1 and the Red copy for the U2. That was just one day. In getting the assignments out for a two week period, there might be 6 sheets of paper in one official’s file box. There might be two Blues meaning he was referee in two games, then there might be three yellows for his U1 position and another Red for his U2 games. Still, we had to take all those sheets for 135 officials and hand stuff them and lick stamps and seal envelopes. Faye did all that. I would make the assignments and print them and cut them. Faye did all the rest. She was something to watch and she never put an official’s assignments in the wrong envelope or the wrong box. She was awesome. Man, I am glad the ARBITER came along for both our sakes. I do not want to go back to those days. We did that about three or four years.
Let’s talk about camp. She has been to every camp; Camp absolutely could not run without her. If I forget anything, she has to run and get it. She takes all the pictures. Faye and her good friend Sandy have filmed every game at Camp since it started in 1991. Friends, there is air conditioned gyms at camp and they work. When you are running the court, you don’t notice the A/C. Believe us, when you are sitting still and filming, you notice. Faye has put on sweat shirts, long pants and wrapped up in blankets to sit there and film for the campers. Then after the film, she has to hustle back to the dorm and get the room ready for the counselors meetings; getting the snacks, icing down the drinks. She is by far the MVP of camp.
She has missed one State Championship game since 1984 and that was the year I was sick and we both stayed home. Other than that, she has been there every year pulling for you guys just as hard as I do. She is an amazing woman. She hears all the complaints and she anguishes with me over all the problems, wow, she has been my rock.
I love her; I could not and would not want to do it without her. Faye
Mattocks
LEE MILLER, Class of 2012, Nov 4, 2012
Lee Miller is one of the most
avid and supporting fans that you will ever run into. Just ask him about the Southeastern
Conference, the South Carolina Gamecocks or Steve Spurrier,
then sit back and prepare to be entertained for about thirty minutes. Miller
loves his Gamecocks and it is nothing for him to jump in the car and ride to
Lee not only plays in every golf
tournament we have; he brings a car load of his buddies from
Miller supports his group in the
playoffs. He always made the long trek
from
Lee Miller was a traveling
salesman and his job took him across several States but he managed to be off
every Friday and he took several vacation days on Mondays and Tuesdays. He was always available on his off days
UNLESS the Gamecocks were playing in a bowl game; then he was off to
Let’s look at Lee’s career:
4 time Regional official, 93, 00, 08, 12
1 time State Championship official 93
Lee stays in shape all year round; everytime you see him, he looks fit and ready to step on the court. His image as an official is enhanced by his athleticism and the coaches immediately accept that he is going to give them a great job each night. I am delighted to have crossed paths with this man and be able to call him a friend: Lee Miller.
ANTHONY MITCHELL, Inaugural
Class of 2009, Nov 8, 2009
Anthony Mitchell is one of the best and most loyal friends a man could ever have. He has been in the association all 25 years. He is an excellent friend who has supported me at every turn. If you say something about Tommy Mattocks, you have Anthony Mitchell to deal with. I do not have a more loyal official than Anthony Mitchell and I will always be indebted to him for his support.
He attended camp in 1993 and finished 3rd. He is held in the highest of esteem from
numerous people in
I am amazed at his stamina; he is the Head of School Transportation at the School Bus Garage here in Kinston and his responsibilities are to oversee everything to do with the transportation end such as the buses, the gas, the drivers, the schedules, the breakdowns as well as the safety of the kids. He gets up and rides the roads at 5:00am in the mornings to make sure it is safe for the buses to run; works all day, then drives to Laney for a Ball game to get home around midnight; just to get up and do it again the next day, wow.
He is undeniably an excellent test taker, one of the absolute best. I never made a 100 on a basketball test. Anthony Mitchell has made 4 of them. In the 25 years in the association, he has taken 25 tests; 23 of 25 scores 90 or better, but most are above 95.
An excellent
Let’s examine Mitchell’s career:
4 time Regional official, 93, 96, 01, 07
2 time State Championship official 96, 07
1 All Star Game official, 1994
Selected for the Distinguished Service Award by association vote in 2003
I said Anthony Mitchell was
loyal. I booked Recreation Basketball in
TERRI MOHR, Class of 2014, Nov 2, 2014
Terri Mohr started in Rec ball with me in 1992. After getting her feet wet with some 8 & under midget games, she liked refereeing and decided to go to Camp that summer. She finished 10th in her first try. Mohr had played the game in high school and had a very successful career at Barton College so she caught on quick. She never looked back. Two more camps with us and she was now ready for some Varsity basketball refereeing. She then went to a college camp and got picked up in the Carolinas Conference. In just five or six years, she was calling college ball. She could run like a deer and looked great on the floor; she was a natural.
I sent her to the Regionals after just 5 years on the job. The State liked her so well, she advanced to the Girls State Championship in just 5 short years in 1997. But the best was yet to come. The Highlight of her career would come in 2002 when I convinced Dick Knox to take a chance on her. She had been to the State before on the Girls side, but this was different. The EOA had a Boys Championship and the State was in unchartered waters. No female had ever called a boys final. Dick Knox said yes and of all things, we drew the 4A Boys State Championship game. Mohr did not disappoint, she was fantastic. We were all on Cloud Nine. It was a shining moment I will never forget and they can not ever take away that the EOA had the first girl in a Mens State Championship game. Then the news came 4 years later, her job was transferring her to Florida and her career was over in North Carolina. Hearts were broken, hers, mine, and many of her fellow officials.
Now Mohr is in Florida, but don’t for one minute think that she has forgotten her friends and fellow officials here in North Carolina. She is on Facebook always commenting on our Basketball posts, she still reads the Web Page every week and when she comes home to visit, she is liable to show up at a game. She is constantly asking me how some of her fellow officials are doing. She did not walk away, she was taken away. But she still cares. It is that bond among Eastern Officials that is ever-lasting.
Let’s look at Terri’s career:
3 time Regional official, 97, 02, 06
2 time State Championship official 97, 02* * 1st Female to referee Mens State Championship & it was 4A
Camper 3 Times, 92, 94, 95
Camp Counselor 1 Time, 05
Mohr has so many firsts to her credit in a fabulous career. She was the first female to finish # 1 at the Tommy Mattocks Referee Camp in 1995. She was the first female to referee a Boys State Championship game in 2002. Mohr was the first and only female Counselor at the Tommy Mattocks Referee Camp in 2005. My wife, Faye was the first female, but Mohr is the first Female Referee to be enshrined into the Tommy Mattocks Hall of Fame. If you were lucky enough to call with her, she made an impression with her work ethic. None of the veterans around here will ever forget Terri Mohr.
MIKE MONTFORD, Class of 2012, Nov 4, 2012
You know, it’s a funny thing. When we started this Hall of Fame back in 2009, I knew Harry, Dennis, Anthony, Larry, Jerry and Faye were going in that first class but I also knew that one other person was going to be in my Hall of Fame before I quit. No matter how many and in what order the officials were to go in; I was not going to leave this man out. It was only a matter of where I was going to put him and when. If I would have had to make a class by itself, Mike Montford was going to be in my Hall of Fame. When you start picking out nice people, Mike zooms to the front of the line. They simply do not come any nicer than Mike Montford. I can immediately think of some super nice people, Anthony Mitchell, Larry Honeycutt, Anthony McGleen, Harold Lail, Henry Conner, Jerry Johnson; all these people are nice simply to be nice, no ulterior motives, they are just nice people. Mike is in that group of elites. He was raised to say “Mame, Sir, and Yes, I’ll try”. I smile just thinking about him.
Mike Montford
called in this association for 17 years, from 1991 to the 2007/ 2008
season. He started like most officials
at the JV level but through hard work and dedication, he made it to the Varsity
level. He retired because his knees gave
out, they simply would not allow him to continue. But it was his work behind
the scenes that always got him noticed. He would do the extras and the stuff
only a Mike Montford would do. He would feed the
Mike Montford has not called a game for us since 2008 and does not plan to come back; but he still goes out of his way and beyond the call of duty to hang around with us and just continue to be nice to everyone. He does not do any of this for what he might get out of it. In 2010 well after Mike had retired, I gave a talk to the Jacksonville Sports Club about Sports Officiating and Life at NC State. The Jacksonvile Daily News put a picture of me in the paper and Mike saw it. On his own time and with his own money, Montford chased down the photographer, got a copy of the original photo, carried it off, got it blown up and then mounted it on a plaque. He surprised me with that plaque at the next golf tournament. Was this going to get him another game or two, no; he was retired. I haven’t forgotten that nor will I ever forget that act of kindness. Wow, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
Montford
attended our camp one time in 2001 and was always a big supporter of that
camp. He was the reason many young
Boy, Mike Montford
can hit a golf ball. Oh, Fallin, Schultz, Fredette or Paylor might hit one
past him occasionally; but day in and day out, If I
wanted a long drive, I would without a doubt pick Montford
first. In addition, Montford really excelled as a
Baseball Umpire calling a High School State Championship. And he as umpired at
Many of the younger officials in here tonight probably do not know Mike Montford but Tommy Mattocks does; Tommy Mattocks thinks the world of him and Tommy Mattocks will never ever forget Mike Montford.
CHARLIE
What can I tell you about Charlie
Ore that you don’t already know; he was a very good official and called for all
the right reasons. You knew that. Many
might not know about all the behind the scenes efforts this giant of a man
performs. If he is in it, he gives you the complete 100 % effort and support.
He will recruit new officials as hard as anyone in the association. But he does not stop there; he will give his
time to train and mentor them as well. But Charlie does it in the most special
way that the official is appreciative for a lifetime. The official will keep coming back to
It is not just the young
officials that want to hang around Charlie Ore or just the ones that he has
helped along the way. The older
officials respect
While Charlie had been a blessing in his early years as a Clinic Leader, he has been most valuable for his care and compassion in dealing with all the officials in the area at scrimmages, during the season and even after the season. On his own, he usually hosts a cookout at his home where he supplies the food and beverages for the whole clinic area including the Crystal Coast Officials. From November to March, most know him as a Basketball official; but these cookouts show off the man who cares about his people not just during the season, but all year long. And these gatherings make the local area that much closer as a group.
Charlie is also the White Hat in
Football; the referee, the man in charge, the man that makes the decisions, the
man that enforces the penalties, the man that deals with the coaches. The very same attributes that made him great
in basketball also carry over to football.
Let’s look at Charlie’s career:
Clinic Leader in
1 time Regional official, 92
He is the type individual that had rather help someone else that get the glory himself. Many times, he has called me and said, “Hey, instead of giving me that game, while don’t you give it to John Doe” or he will say, “Instead of sending me to that 4A game, send me to a private school game and let me take John Doe out for his first Varsity game”. He is truly one of a kind and out for the good of the association and his fellow officials.
He is one of the nicest, most sincere guys you will ever meet. We miss his “on the court” presence; but we are thrilled that he did not “Just walk away”. He has stay involved and that benefits everyone of us. I hope all will seek out advice and Life’s lessons from Charlie Ore.
J. C. REYNOLDS, Class of 2010, Nov 7, 2010
J C called in association for 16 years, 84 – 2000. He is a True friend and I believe he would do anything for me.
He was a Counselor 7 times at camps when I needed someone to pick up the campers after Dennis got through with them. 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99
Even though he does not play golf; Played in our first golf tournament, made a fifty foot putt on the first hole and we never heard the end of it; he likes to say: “ I thought you’all said this game was hard”
He still reads the web page every
week to keep up with his friends and former running mates in the
Association. J C was as good a friend to
his fellow officials as you can get and he still supports our association 100 %. He is also active from the bench as
assistant coach for his son, Chad Reynolds who is Head Mens
Basketball Coach at
J C was never much with mechanics, he refereed with the heart and had probably as good of judgment and foul selection as anyone in the association.
Did I say he was not much for
mechanics, I
wanted to send him to the State, he was an excellent official but I worried
about his mechanics; so I decided to send him with Dennis Arinello, Mr Mechanics who
dazzled them in
Allow me one J C Reynolds Story;
John Grimsley sent J C and I to Princeton for a
rematch of an earlier game at Elm City in which there was a fight. When we
arrived, the Highway Protrol told us to park here, to
back in and to give them the keys to my car. They said the car would be cranked
and waiting for us after the game. Do
not take a shower, do not go to the dressing room, come straight to the car and
leave. They would give us a police
escort out of town, and they did. When we got in the gym, there was Charlie
Adams and Simon Terrell
on the top row. I asked J
C what we had gotten ourselves into tonight.
Early in the second quarter, I was on the baseline and J C was
table side in a 2 man crew right in front of the
In any association, you need a mixture of aggressive young guns and old pros who are laid back. Nothing bothered J C, he never got excited. A coach could say anything to him and he was always the same laid back, calm official. He could get that coach back to reality by either walking him calmly back to the bench or he could lay the hammer to him. He always knew which one to use and was one of the most respected officials ever to call in this association. I truly can not remember him ever being marked off at any school. The schools knew that they were going to get the same official and the same effort from every game.
1 time Regional official 90
1 time State Championship official 1990
Recipient of Distinguished Service Award by association vote 2000
I don’t have a better Friend than J C Reynolds
MIKE RUSSO, Class of 2014, Nov 2, 2014
Mike Russo moved down to our area
from up north in 1997 and somehow met up with Bobby Black. Russo lived in Wilmington but went to a few
clinics in Jacksonville and became close to Bobby Black. Evidently, Russo liked what we
were doing down here in
Russo was an extremely smart person and there was no hiding that. Remember, we were taking closed book tests back then and I would publish the grades. Russo was always in the top five making 98 or 99 every year. Then we started doing five year test averages and Mike was either one or two every year. Many times, a coach would call me about a rule interpretation and I would tell him, “Let me look it up so I do not tell you anything wrong and I will get back to you”. Then I would pick up the phone and call Russo; hey Mike, what is the rule about this. He was my crutch and I used him more than I want to tell. That kind of rules knowledge is always an asset to any association.
Mike stays in great shape year around. When he is not refereeing basketball, he is playing tennis. Like I said, he is a transplant from the North, but he sure fit in with that Wilmington crowd and they love him. Everybody wants a game with Russo. But I use him a lot with the new guys because I want my new people to see how a pro goes about planning for a game and the details he puts into his pre-game conference. If I can get the new people to buy into doing all the little things, we are on our way. Russo has played a vital part in that role as a mentor for up and coming officials.
Russo never went to the Tommy Mattocks Referee Camp but he has been a huge fan; recommending it to all the young officials in Wilmington. And he stopped by every year that we held it in Wilmington just to say “Hello” and ask if there was anything he could do for us. All you have to do is ask a camper from Wilmington, “Where did you hear about our Camp” and Mike Russo was the answer. He sees what it does and he has pushed it for as long as he has been in Wilmington.
Let’s look at Mike’s career:
3 time Regional official, 01, 04, 07
1 time State Championship official 07
Most everyone just wants to get out there and call a game and go home with the money. Not Russo, he has built a solid foundation by learning the rules and feeling confident about what he is doing. He has the personality to get along with the Coaches and he just does not have any problems in the games. The Coaches know they are going to get a fair shake and they especially know that there will not be any rules problems in their game with Mike Russo.
BRIAN SCHULTZ, Class of 2012, Nov 4, 2012
Brian Schultz has called in the
EOA for 20 years but it was not consecutive. He called for 19 years and then
retired from his real job and traveled for 3 years before returning last
season. He had been a previous Clinic Leader for the
Brian Schultz believed in our
Referee Camp and attended 4 times. That
in itself is not unusual; however Brian holds the record for the best
finishes. In 1991 in his first camp, he
finished out of the top three; but after that, he was superb. In his second camp in 1992, he finished # 1
as the top camper. He returned in 1993
to a big camp with 28 officials and finished 2nd; then he returned
five years later in 1998 to recapture the top spot at Number One. So Brian is
the only camper to ever finish # 1 at two camps AND he is the only camper to
finish in the top three a total of 3 times. I can remember at one of the camps
in
Schultz is very active in his
local area running the Basketball for the local Crystal Coast Organization
which started out as a Cherry Point commission but later blossomed out to local
area middle schools and private schools. Schultz was also active in the Senoirs golf tour for
Brian is a perfectionist at heart
and wants to do everything the right way. His work ethic and his drive has carried him to the top of everything he attempts and he
has been willing to share with his fellow officials. Schultz has recruited and
helped train many of the young officials around the
Let’s look at Brian’s career:
3 time Regional official, 96, 99, 04
1 time State Championship official 04
Camper 4 Times, 91, 92, 93, 98
We thought, when Brian retired, that we had lost him; most people do not return once they retire. Three years later, Schultz called and wanted to come back. I nor the EOA could have received better news. We are much stronger now that he returned, Brian Schultz.
ROBERT TALLO, Class of 2012, Nov 4, 2012
Robert Tallo
is one of the many unsung heroes of the Eastern Association. Working out of
Robert liked our referee camp and
attended 5 times. I was standing there
when someone once asked him why he came back to camp every year. He told them he simply enjoyed calling and
wanted to stay involved. Involved he is
too, he has been the clinic leader in
Tallo
is a prime example that if you are good in one sport; you will do the things in
the other sports that make you excel. Robert is a good basketball official and
I have had the pleasure to umpire volleyball with him. He has taken that sport to the collegiate
level; and he once called a lot of softball. As he stated, he enjoys sports. Robert is well respected by the close people
around him. He was even once the
Athletic Director for
Robert’s clinic area is one of
the smallest in the association, but he gives it every bit as much time as a
Let’s look at Robert’s career:
2 time Regional official, 99, 05
1 time State Championship official 99
Camper 5 Times, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99
Tallo just goes about his business
like the professional he is. He
never complains and He gives me the same superior effort
that he does with his
teaching job at
BARRY VALICEK, Class of 2013, Nov 3, 2013
Barry Valicek has always been on my closely watched list. He impressed me early and I knew we would see big things out of him. He had the image so we only needed to make an official out of him after that start. That part was easy. Barry was motivated to work hard and wanted in. He had a lot of help in the area he lived from his early clinic leaders as well as his fellow officials. He became a Varsity level official relative soon and was willing to “Give Back” He has only been in the association since 2000 and in that short time, he is Clinic Leader, Regional official and now a camp counselor. He has soared straight to the top of his game because he pays attention to details.
Barry knows the rules and has a knack for teaching others. He is not over-bearing. He comes across as your friend and ally instead of your instructor. His group looks up to him and they believe in him. I do too. The lowest grade he has ever made on a test in 13 years is a 93. The rest are more like 97s, 98s and 99s. He studies and he knows the rules, what an ideal combination. He also possesses and uses excellent people skills in dealing with both the officials and the coaches.
I said Barry was eager to learn.
He joined in 2000; and immediately went to camp in 2001 and again in 2002 where
he finished 2nd. It all has
worked for him since. He was in the Regionals two years later in 2004 and he has been back
twice since. Because of his drive,
ambition and willingness to give back; we asked him to be a Counselor at our
referee camp this past summer and he accepted. He did a great job and now the
entire association is finding out what the
Valicek is another example of being good in multiple sports. He is an outstanding Baseball umpire because he works hard in that sport and uses the same traits that make him successful as a basketball official and clinic leader. His people skills and his image will help him in any field he enters.
Let’s look at Barry’s career:
Joined the EOA in 2000
3 time Regional official, 04, 10, 13 East / West Game in 2009
Camper 2 Times, 01, 02, Finished 2nd in 2002
Camp Counselor 1 Time 13 He has an invitation to come back
We wanted Barry as a
SHAWN WILLIAMS, Class of 2010, Nov 7, 2010
Shawn has been in the association 17 years 94 - Present
He is a very good friend
When I took over, he was an eager JV official who was very motivated and “wanted it” He quickly found the right people to help him and he made it to the Varsity level fast.
He is not a “Yes” man, we butted heads on many occasions with a difference of opinion. I did not always change to his thinking, but I can say I always listened.
I think of him as the Martin
Luther King of the EOA. Back in 1984,
when I got the job, to
be perfectly honest, I took over from a
situation where the White officials got all the games. Shawn Williams stood up to me and promoted
his officials, no matter the color. Shawn is as responsible as anyone in the
room, other than myself, for promoting fairness among
the ranks. So at the risk of his own
games, Shawn Williams always stood tall and told me exactly what he
believed. That is the quality I most
admire in him and that is the reason I have him in as high a position in our
Association as possible. He was a Clinic
Leader and a member of the Board until his new job in
Shawn became a clinic leader and
carried on the tradition started by Howard Lutrell,
Dennis Arinello and later by Bobby Black. Williams trained his own replacements as
clinic leaders by working closely with Robert Farley and William Robinson.
Shawn is probably the most
dynamic public speaker in the association. He could talk about the phone book and hold your
attention. Normally at camp, when a
presentation is being made by a camp counselor, I will drop in for a moment and then
leave. When I drop in on Shawn’s talk, I
find myself staying until he finishes.
It is no wonder he is a successful pastor in
Camp 1996/5
Average to good test taker
3 time Regional official 99, 03, 09
3 time State Championship official 99, 03, 09
Recipient for Distinguished Service Award as voted by members of association in 2005
I give you the Reverend, Shawn Williams
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