GAOA Program 2013

20Georgia Athletic Officials Association and Cliff Keen present

Gwinnett Convention CenterDuluth, GA | August 10, 2013

THE ANNIVERSARY

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OFFICIATEGEORGIA DAY

Photos throughout program courtesy of the GAOA, Ty Freeman, Jon Barash and the GHSA.

The Officiate Georgia Day program was produced by Score Atlanta, a full-service marketing company. The program was designed by Creative Art Director DJ Galbiati Blalock and content and editing was overseen by Managing Editor Stephen Black and Assistant Editor Craig Sager II. Score can be reached at 404-256-1572, [email protected] or www.ScoreAtl.com. Be sure to check us out on facebook and twitter.

O F F I C I A T E G E O R G I A D A Y | A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 1 3

3www.GAOAHa l l o f Fame . com www.GAA th l e t i cO f f i c i a l s . o r g

GAOA’s Membership

1. Approved by GHSA & GISA for Access to All Games & Contests, to include Champion-ship Games

2. Officials Association with 75% Members Registered Fee is $15.00 Per Official

3. Officials Association with Less than 75% Members registered – Membership Fee is $20.00 Per Official (i.e., Registration by Associations is encouraged to Reduce Illegal Applicants Getting Membership Cards)

GAOA’s Awards & Recognition Opportunities

1. GAOA overall “Official of the Year” with Lifetime Membership

2. GAOA Charlie Bloodworth “Lifetime Achievement Award” with Lifetime Membership

3. GAOA Sport-specific “Officials of the Year” with Current Year Membership

4. GAOA officials selected to officiate GACA’s & GISA’s North-South All-Star Games

GAOA’s Improved Website Streamlines Registration and Communications @ www.gaathleticofficials.org

GAOA’s virtual Hall of Fame Opened June 5, 2012 @ www.gaoahalloffame.com

GAOA Annual Conference

1. Held Annually with Minimum Registration Fee

2. Top Local and National Officials lead Professional Development Sessions

3. Sport Specific Breakout Sessions - Catalyst for Change/Improvements

4. State of the Art Conference and Training Sites

5. Vendors Supply Nation Brand Officials’ Gear and Equipment at Discount Pricing

6. NASO Membership with $20.00 Conference Discount

7. Annual Training Site for Cheerleader Associations Began - 2011

8. GHSA’s GAOA Elite Basketball & Football Camps Began - 2012

9. Open to Other Sanctioned Sport Programs for Annual Training/Specialized Camps

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

G A O A - P R O M O T I N G E X C E L L E N C E I N O F F I C I A T I N G


Dear “Officiate Georgia Day” Attendees,

Welcome to “Officiate Georgia Day.” Cliff Keen Athletic is proud to be the Title Sponsor and pre-ferred supplier to Georgia Athletic Officials. Today, we are proud to share in the largest gathering

of sports officials anywhere in the great state of Georgia! Cliff Keen would also like to proudly salute Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA Executive Director, for his 20-plus years of exceptional leadership and commitment for Georgia’s high school officials, and for his help in establishing the GAOA. Dr. Swearngin, along with Alan Smith, and their dedication to the ad-vancement of officiating across the state of Georgia, have helped pave the path for future generations of quality sports officiating. As your Title Sponsor, Cliff Keen has what you need for sanctioned contests. It’s never too early to get in gear for this season. Turn to the brand that leads the way in quality, performance and service. You’ll find our assortment of fine Officials Wear available through www.cliffkeen.com and Authorized Cliff Keen dealers throughout Georgia. And don’t forget your special GAOA promotion code for big discounts on all of your officials supplies. Thank you for your dedication to prep and collegiate athletics throughout the state of Georgia. We know the dedication to your craft is sincere. And we sincerely appreciate your support. We’re proud to be supporting the GAOA’s “Officiate Georgia Day!”

Enjoy the day,

Chad ClarkSenior Vice PresidentCliff Keen Athletic

A WORD FROM THE SPONSOR



Dear “Officiate Georgia Day” Attendees,

Welcome to “Officiate Georgia Day.” GAOA’s Board of Directors, its officers, and its title sponsor – Cliff Keen Athletic Wear, Inc., proudly present “Officiate Georgia Day” to the state’s large gath-

ering of high school officials for professional development. GAOA proudly salutes Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA Executive Director, for his 20-plus years of exceptional leadership, commitment, and care for Georgia’s high school officials, and for his help establishing the GAOA. The conference program planning committee is pleased to offer you the opportunity to hear from the following speakers, all experts in their fields:

• Marvin Hudson, Major League Baseball Umpire • Tony Greene, Officiated NCAA 2013 Men’s Basketball Championship game• Jerome Boger, Referee, 2013 NFL Super Bowl XLVII• Sean Wright, National Basketball Association Official• Jim Lord, Executive Director, American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators• John Stephenson, College Football Hall of Fame Representative• Lesa Parsons and Gus Morris, SOPTI Conditioning Program

On its 20-year anniversary, GAOA is pleased to honor its three former Executive Directors – Mi-chael Wood, Allen Anderson, and Brockey Brock; its three Charlie Bloodworth Lifetime Achievement Award winners – 2011 Dock Sisk, 2012 Walt Carter, and 2013 Robert Barnett Jr.; and its 21 Over-all Of-ficials of the Year from 1993 – 2013, with GAOA Lifetime Membership; and its ten 2013 sport-specific Officials of the Year with their current year memberships. These awards will be presented each year to GAOA’s Officials of the Year and Charlie Bloodworth Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Additionally, GAOA is pleased to announce that GAOA’s Sportsmanship Award sponsor, 1 Stop Sports, LLC, will present on December 24, 2013, two $1,500.00 scholarships to the child or grandchild of two Georgia high school sport officials. GAOA extends thanks to the Georgia High School Officials Association sponsors listed in today’s program for their support of “Officiate Georgia Day” and to the sport goods companies that are here today to support our officials. GAOA thanks the NASO for its continued support for “Officiate Georgia Day” by offering GAOA members a $20.00 NASO membership discount. Please visit the NASO and sport goods vendors at their booths to thank them for their support and to take advantage of their qual-ity products and services at discounted prices. GAOA welcomes Tommy Whittle, who assumes the duties of GHSA’s Associate Director of Foot-ball, Baseball, and Literary, and Brent Cribb, who assumes the duties of Vice President of the Georgia Independent School Association, and bids farewell to Dennis Payne, who retired after spending 20-plus years providing exceptional support for Georgia high school officials. GAOA is proud of the bond between it and the state’s high school associations, which is produc-tive and strong; it helps to provide Georgia officials with exceptional opportunities for professional growth and to provide Georgia high schools with some of the best officiating in the country. GAOA appreciates the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association, an annual partner in presenting the GACA/GAOA Overall Official of the Year and the ten sports-specific Officials of the Year awards each year at the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association’s Coaches Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held an-nually the first week of June at the Northwest Trade and Convention Center in Dalton. Thanks Georgia Athletic Coaches Association for your continued support and friendship. In closing, I hope you enjoy our guest speakers, do business with our vendors, and make time to visit with officials from around the state and from other sports than your own. Thanks for attending “Officiate Georgia Day” and best wishes for a successful season.

Sincerely,

Alan SmithAlan SmithExecutive Director

A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR



Image in Officiating: “Make the Right Calls”Exhibit Hall A - General Sessions (Lower Level)7:00 AM - 8:55 AM .................................................................................................Pick up Registration Materials

8:55 AM - 9:00 AM ............................................................................................................Please Take Your Seats

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM .....................................................................................................OGAD Opening CeremonyAlan Smith, Welcome

Marines, Present ColorsBill Barber, Invocation

Kyle Chambers, National Anthem

9:20 AM - 9:25 AM ............................................................................................................................ Earl Etheridge GHSA, Chairman of Officials Assn

9:25 AM - 9:30 AM .................................................................................................................................Terry Rogers Executive Director, GACA

9:30 AM - 9:40 AM ..............................................................................................................................Gary PetersonCliff Keen Welcome

9:40 AM - 10:00 AM .................................................................................................. Lesa Parsons & Gus Morris SOPTI Conditioning Program

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM .............................................................................................................................................MC Comfort Break

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM ...................................................................................................................... John StephensonCollege Football Hall of Fame

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM ................................................................................................Tony Greene & Jerome BogarGetting to the Top - Now What?

11:30 AM - 12:15 AM................................................................................................................................................. MCLunch/Comfort Break

12:15 AM - 1:15 PM ..............................................................................................................................Marvin HudsonMake the Right Calls

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM ...................................................................................................................................................... MCComfort Break

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM ........................................................ Touchdown Club of Atlanta - George Gardner AwardGAOA Sport Specific Officials of the Year

GAOA Past Executive DirectorsGAOA Charlie Bloodworth Life Time Achievement Award

GAOA Overall Officials of the Year 1993 - 2013GAOA Special Recognition Dr. Ralph Swearngin

Cheerleading

OFFICIATE GA DAY SUMMIT ITINERARY



Sport Specific Breakout Sessions “Hots & Nots”2:30 PM - 4:30PM ................................................................................................Football - Salon 3 (Lower Level)

2:30 PM - 4:30PM .............................................................................. Baseball/Softball - Salon 2 (Lower Level)

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM .......................................................... Basketball/Lacrosse/Soccer - Salon 1 (lower Level)

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM ...................................................................................... Meeting Room 2 C/D (Upper Level)

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM .................................................Swimming & Diving /Gymnastics/Wrestling - Volleyball

Meeting Room 6 A/B/C (Lower Level)

10:00 AM - 4:30 PM ................................................Cheerleading - Meeting Rooms 5 A/B/C (Upper Level)

*** Cheerleading Officials: Please Retire to Your Annual Training Program at 10:00 AM to Rooms 5 A/B/C (Upper Level)

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GOLD SILVER

Augusta Association of Football OfficialsColumbus Basketball Officials Association Houston County Sports Officials AssociationNortheast Georgia Baseball Officials AssociationNortheast Georgia Basketball Officials Association Northeast Georgia Football Officials AssociationSavannah Basketball Officials Association

Albany Baseball & Softball Umpires AssociationAtlanta Area Basketball Officials AssociationAtlanta Umpires AssociationAugusta Baseball Officials AssociationColumbus Baseball & Softball Umpires AssociationColumbus Football Officials AssociationDistrict 2 Officials AssociationGeorgia Mountain Basketball Officials AssociationLanier Baseball & Softball Officials AssociationMetro Atlanta Cheerleading Judges AssociationNorthwest Georgia Cheer Judges Association North Metro Umpires AssociationSouth Georgia Basketball Officials AssociationSouth Georgia Cheerleading Officials AssociationSouthwest Georgia Cheerleading Officials AssociationSouthwest Georgia Officials AssociationStatesboro Officials AssociationWarner Robins Basketball Officials AssociationWest Georgia Football Officials Association

PLATINUM

Georgia Athletic Officials Association (GAOA) thanks its sponsors for supporting Officiate GA Day, a statewide educational and professional development conference for high school officials.

Cliff Keen, Inc. Title Sponsor1 Stop Sport’s LLC, Scholarship SponsorGeorgia High School AssociationGeorgia Athletic Coaches AssociationGeorgia Independent School AssociationNational Association Sports OrganizationSouthtowne.comHonigs Whistle Stop, Inc.Purchase Officials, GAAtlanta Quarterback ClubAtlanta Area Football Officials AssociationAtlanta Peach State Football Officials AssociationPeach State Basketball Officials AssociationCapital City Officials AssociationChattahoochee Officials Association Inc.Chattahoochee Baseball Umpires AssociationEtowah Valley Football Officials Association, Inc.Georgia ASA

Georgia Football Officials Association, Established 1926Georgia Lacrosse Officials AssociationGeorgia Officials Athletic AssociationGeorgia Wrestling Officials AssociationGold Leaf Football Officials Association*Hinesville Officials AssociationInternational City Football Officials AssociationLanier Football Officials AssociationMiddle Georgia Basketball Officials AssociationMiddle Georgia Football Officials AssociationMulti-County Basketball Officials Association, Inc.Multi-County Football Officials Association, Inc.Georgia Amateur Umpires AssociationNorthwest Georgia Basketball Officials AssociationNorthwest Georgia Football Officials AssociationTARA Umpires Association RenewedVidalia - Toombs Softball Officials AssociationWest Georgia Umpires’ (Baseball & Softball) Association

OFFICIATE GA DAY SPONSORS


1 0www.GAOAHa l l o f Fame . com www.GAA th l e t i cO f f i c i a l s . o r g

The purpose of the Georgia Athletic Officials’ Association

(GAOA) is to organize Georgia’s athletic officials into a

cohesive statewide association that encourages excellence

in all sports, that emphasizes sportsmanship, fair play,

and integrity at all levels, and that provides services and

support for the benefit of its membership.

GEORGIA ATHLETIC OFFICIALS’ ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

President/Executive Director ...........................................................................Alan Smith P. O. Box 1400, Lyons, Georgia 30436 | [email protected]

1st Vice President ........................................................................................Larry Sorrells 1121 McCannon Morris Road, Hull, GA 30646

2nd Vice President ................................................................................... Jimmy Hopkins 24 Forest Meadow SW, Rome, GA 30165

3rd Vice President .......................................................................................Chuck Tidwell 127 Briar Creek Trail, Lizella, GA 31052

4th Vice President ..................................................................................... Spencer Smith 4385 Laurel Circle SE, Smyrna, GA 30082

Conference Coordinator ....................................................................... David Lemcoe, Jr. 1045 Cranberry Creek, Roswell, GA 30076



OVERALL OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

1993 .................Tommy Stalnaker

1994 ............................Mike Wood

1995 .............................Troy Dailey

1996 ................................ Earl Fales

1997 ............................... Dock Sisk

1998 ...................Randy Etheridge

1999 ......................Larry Hobgood

2000 .........................James Lange

2001 ........................... Walt Carter

2002 ....................Betty Jane Ford

2003 ....................... Irv Zisselman

2004 .........................Larry Sorrels

2005 ...........................Craig Stone

2006 ............................Alan Smith

2007 ............................Rick Boedy

2008 .......................James Arnold

2009 .........................Carl Monroe

2010 ....................... Chuck Tidwell

2011 ..............................Jack C. Bell

2012 ........................Dick Kitchens

2013 .......................Spencer Smith

THE GACA/GAOA ATHLETIC OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR 2013

The Georgia Athletic Officials Association’s (GAOA) 11 high school officials of the year and its overall Official of the year were honored June 2 during the

Georgia Athletic Coaches’ Association’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton. They were chosen for their outstand-ing knowledge and skill in officiating, as well as their integrity, leadership, profes-sionalism, and dedication. Superb officials like these contribute much to high school athletics in our state, and the GAOA and the GACA are delighted to recognize them with this award. We are pleased to honor, congratulate, and thank them for their continued com-mitment to excellence in officiating.



Spencer SmithGeorgia Football

Officials Association

Greg PridgenAugusta Baseball

Umpires Association

Gregory DyerMetro-Atlanta

Cheerleading Officials Association

Kevin SpiveyLanier Softball

Umpires Association

Patrick JoyceGeorgia Lacrosse

Officials Association (GLOA)

Jeff CarmanGeorgia Wrestling


Tim McLeanMulti-County


Tim TiptonLanier Football


Jonathan ChallenGA Interscholastic

Swimming & Diving Officials Association

Gary BeisserSoutheastern

Soccer Officials Association

2013

YEAROF THEOFFICIALS

BaseballOverall Official of the Year

Cheerleading Football Lacrosse Soccer

Geoff SharpeAtlanta Area

Volleyball Officials Association

Volleyball WrestlingSwimming & DivingSoftball

Basketball



Spencer Smith is the recipient of the 2013 Overall Official of the Year award for his out-

standing officiating over the course of 31 years. The 2009 season was an impressive year for Smith, as he was honored with both the Touch-down Club of Atlanta George Gardner Award for Outstanding Football Official and the GAOA Of-ficial of the Year award. Smith’s career is, with-out a doubt, one that is admirable of an award as monumental as the Overall Official of the Year. Smith’s career has always been all about football. He has resided in Georgia his entire life, covering several different regions across the state. His career began as a head linesman, but in 2008, he moved to the referee position where he is currently. After talking to Smith about receiving the Overall Official of the Year award, one can see how dedicated he has been to his career over the years and why he is worthy of such a prestigious award. “It’s an honor, I was floored, just a tremen-dous honor,“ said a humbled Smith. “I had no idea I was even being considered for this award. I don’t know what the criteria was, but I almost started crying when they called me and told me I won. Overall official in the state of Georgia, that’s pretty darn good.” Smith would not be where he is today, ca-reer-wise, without those people who have played an integral role in his development in the GFOA. “Our president, Mr. Bill Burrell, was instru-mental in steering me in the right direction to make sure I did what I wanted to do,” said Smith. “Also, I think I would be remiss if I didn’t men-tion Mr. Donavan Splinter for taking me under his wing in order to give me tutelage when needed.” Smith’s devotion to the game is truly re-markable and he has been polishing his routine over the past three decades. One of the most important lessons Smith was taught was by the founder of the GFOA, George Gardner. “Whenever you are doing games, stay in

your routine,” says Smith. “If you are in the right place and make the wrong call you can sell it, but if you are in the wrong place and make the wrong call, you are dead in the water and I’ve never for-gotten that. I try to stay in that routine throughout the game because that consistency is so impor-tant to the flow of the game and to make sure the coaches know what’s going on just to keep the game running smoothly at all times.” Not only, has Smith learned from others that have come before him, but he also takes time to watch how other officials are making calls, whether it is watching them on television or at actual games. “It’s important to watch what the officials are doing because you can learn from every scenario, from every situation, and it’s always how they work, what they do well, and what we can learn from them because at that level they have done something right to get there,” Smith explained. Over the years, Smith has become more knowledgeable about the game and has re-mained committed to enforcing the rules prop-erly. He also volunteers with the GHSA in running their summer football mechanics camps for offi-cials. One of the most vital parts of an official’s job is being there to make the right call. At these camps, Smith helps teach the other officials how to move up and down the field in order to remain on task at all times and enforce the rules properly. Smith has become very dedicated to the mentoring program, where senior officials take younger men and women under their wing, in or-der to mentor them to become good officials. “It’s also a two-way street,” says Smith. “They’ve got to make the commitment with the association that they are going to be the best of-ficials they can be.” Smith’s dedication and commitment to be-ing an official, both on the field, as well as his work mentoring young, less experienced officials is to be admired.

2013 OVERALL OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

On the field and off, Smith sets a fine example

By Lauren Goldstein



Charlie Bloodworth was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a mentor, a fund-

raiser, a consensus builder, and a leader. Charlie was the son-in-law every father wishes for, the husband every woman dreams of, the father and grandfather every child deserves, the friend ev-eryone treasures, the mentor needed by every-one who wants to do better. Charlie selflessly helped everyone he could and every good cause that came his way. Few people have done as much for officiating or officials as Charlie Bloodworth, and fewer still are as widely loved and genuinely respected. Char-lie represented the game of basketball, its par-ticipants and officials, with integrity, knowledge, grace and charm. It is a privilege and an honor to announce that GAOA’s Lifetime Achievement Award bears Charlie Bloodworth’s name. Charlie Bloodworth spent a lifetime pro-moting and advancing the game he loved, though basketball wasn’t Charlie’s only sport. As an athlete, Charlie starred in basketball, football, and baseball for Southwest DeKalb High School before attending Georgia State College where he competed in basketball and baseball until mov-ing on to play the outfield for the Waycross Bears. Charlie played for three years before hanging up his spikes to marry longtime sweetheart, Dent Richards. Soon after, they started a family and he took a job as a salesman at DeKalb Sporting Goods, a position he held for 20 years. Not wanting to be away from the game of basketball, Charlie decided to become a high school basketball official. Soon afterwards, he was chosen to officiate at the college level, becoming a referee for the Southeastern Conference. As a basketball official, Charlie Bloodworth enjoyed a long and distinguished career. He found-ed the Georgia College Officials Basketball Asso-ciation in 1959 and served as its commissioner for 21 years. He supervised basketball officials for the Sun Belt Conference for 11 years and the Peach Belt Conference for eight. Mentor and friend to many

of the top basketball officials in the country, Char-lie partnered with the Nationwide Referee Camp, training and improving hundreds of basketball ref-erees. He also spent time observing officials and coordinating television broadcasts for both the SEC and the ACC. Charlie was a past president and lifetime member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO). He also served as coordinator and head clinician of the pi-oneering Converse All Star Basketball Camp with Jack Manton in Milledgeville in 1976 – one of the first camps of its kind. Charlie was a board mem-ber of The Atlanta Tipoff Club, which honored him in 1996 with its annual Steve Schmidt Award for outstanding contributions to Georgia basketball. The TATO club again honored Charlie when it renamed its High School basketball official of the year award “The Charlie Bloodworth High School Official of the Year.” Decades later, he has left an indelible mark on the officiating profession. Charlie was an ex-ceptional basketball official who not only moti-vated aspiring officials to enter the profession, but created a blueprint for doing so for the entire industry. Charlie was a pioneer in basketball offi-ciating circles, creating high school developmen-tal and intercollegiate interview camps for train-ing and hiring NCAA quality officials. Charlie was a mentor, friend, and confidant to many of the top NCAA Division 1 basketball officials in the coun-try; he delighted in helping officials achieve their greatest potential. He was a multitalented, gifted man who gave freely of his time to raise money for local and national endeavors. It was never about Charlie, it was always about what Charlie could do to help somebody else. Personally, I’ve never heard a negative word from or about Charlie; he was about build-ing, not dismantling. Charlie Bloodworth was a man I admired and respected, and I am honored to announce that GAOA’s Lifetime Achievement Award has been named the Charlie Bloodworth Lifetime Achievement Award.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD By Alan SmithGAOA President/Executive Director



In the world of officiating you get what you put in, and by that creed Robert Barnett Jr. is this

year’s recipient of the Charlie Bloodworth Life-time Achievement Award. Like Bloodworth, Bar-nett has left an imprint on high school athletics through his dedication and commitment to im-proving the quality of officiating. Bloodworth’s enduring legacy is as a mentor to young officials and training officials is some-thing that Bloodworth and Barnett have both con-tributed to the profession. Barnett continues his work toward that purpose to this day. Barnett started officiating football and bas-ketball in 1964 and continued until 2002. Early in his career, Barnett teamed up with Bloodworth and other dedicated officials such as Alan Ander-son to change the way the varying associations were assigned to games. The group felt strongly that in order to improve the integrity of the game, their proposed changes needed to be made. For quite some time, Georgia’s different associa-tions had approached the schools for a contract to officiate their games. The problem was that if schools did not like the calls, they could threaten to not renew the contract the following year. Anderson, Bloodworth, Barnett and other representatives across the state put together a proposal for the GHSA to assign associations to the schools and have a uniform, unbiased ap-proach to the process. The plan was to see how it played out in its first year in the metro Atlanta area, and to then make a decision moving forward. “Well, it worked so well that they adopted the plan for the whole state and to all sports,” beamed Barnett. “That was probably one of the best things for the student-athletes, and I know it was for the officials. It gave us [officials] our respect back. We now could officiate ballgames without the threat of intimidation that we were going to lose a contract if the calls did not go in their favor.” Transforming the profession is something Barnett has done throughout his career. After all, he was the first African-American to officiate a GHSA state championship game. Before retiring from officiating, Barnett also made history by be-

ing a part of the first all African-American crew to call a football state final. Over the years, the platform in which sports are played at the high school level has changed. Games are televised and webcasted worldwide. Officials gain exposure through technology and according to Barnett “It gives incentive for each official to be-come the best they can be,” he said. Georgia is home to some of the best ath-letics in the country, and sharing the stage with these athletes requires an understanding of the generation. This is an aspect of Barnett’s career that he says he enjoys most. “Officiating keeps you close to the young adults so you will not become stale in your think-ing,” he declared. “You get older, but the kids stay at that same age. You learn how to adjust and appreci-ate that and understand the young people better.” Over the years, Barnett was always moti-vated to stay in shape and continuing to working year round. “Charlie spent a lot of time and energy try-ing to raise the bar for officials and I have adopted a lot of the things that Charlie emphasized like ‘If you are going to be a top notch official, you better work at it,’” said Barnett. “You have to work year round and during the offseason.” Over Barnett’s 40-plus year career, he offici-ated in college and worked a full-time job for the local and federal governments. Officiating has been his true passion, and he has enjoyed sharing the passion with such an assortment of great individuals. “Officiating introduced me to people I would have never known if I did not get into it,” said Barnett. “Doctors, nurses, lawyers, business people. … It has been very rewarding to me.” This season Barnett says he will spend this upcoming football season evaluating the crews he assigns through the Capital City Officials As-sociation. The CCOA works football, basketball, baseball and soccer. “I know that Charlie was a quality person and professional, and for me to receive this award in his name is one of the highest honors I could ever receive as a retired official.”

CHARLIE BLOODWORTH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Honoree blazed trail for African-American officials

By Craig Sager II

GAOA Program 2013

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