OHSAA Football and Basketball Officials - Sandusky, Ohio
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BAOA Hall of Fame Foundation
The Bay Area HOF was inspired by the many great members that have been in the organization. As an association, we wanted to recognize those members that not only obtained great accolades while officiating but also made contributions to the association and their community.
The process began forming as Greg Bartemes would encourage the association to get involved with the OHSAA HOF process after attending each secretary's meeting. At the 2022 banquet, Ryan Bowers posed the idea of having a HOF committee, which he agreed to chair and asked for volunteers. As a result, a committee was formed, which included nine members of the BAOA.
The founding HOF committee members included Ryan Bowers, Tom Priesman, Greg Bartemes, Brad Huntley, Kurt Leber, Jeff Todd, Andy Kennedy, Joe Roth, and Addie Martin.
2024 BAOA Hall of Fame Class
Rick Jeffery- 2024 HOF
It was a great start, from taking my basketball test in a barber shop in Bowling Green in 1968 and working intramural and city
league basketball with my college roommate to taking and passing the Football Rules Exam in Bill Enderle’s barn in August 1969. Immediately, I was asked to be the sixth man on a five-man veteran crew. I traveled with them every week until about mid-season, when our umpire went down with a knee injury, and I finished the season as umpire.
Five years later, Al Welfle and I went on our own and started a new crew with Keith Newton, Charles Krumholtz, and Charlie
Ulmer. With Al Welfle’s retirement, I moved to referee and continued to work in basketball and football. Keith and I remained
the foundation of the football crew, along with others who had filled in for retirements for the next 41 years.
In 1977, I became the instructor for our recruits through the Sandusky High School Adult Education System. It allowed our association to begin the class in July and administer the test in late August or early September. This allowed the new officials to start working the lower-level games in September and October rather than wait a year before stepping on the football field. I am not sure about the entire state, but I know we were the only association using this method at the time, Northwest Ohio. I continued to be involved in the instruction of new officials in one fashion or another for the next 35 years.
With the help of a basketball official, David Mehling, the General Manager of our local radio station, we began an “ask the referee program” that was aired each week in the pre-game lead into the live broadcast game of the week. The purpose was to educate the public about what we do and why and clear up misconceptions about our job. That transitioned into a sideline reporter position during the live broadcast when we didn’t have a scheduled game, which I am still doing today.
I became the football rules interpreter for the BAOA in early 1979 and continued for the next 33 years. I would schedule 8 or 9 weeks of rules discussion when the norm before was 5 or 6. We went from one official (Charlie Flohr) qualifying for post-season to routinely having several members qualifying and going on to do a Championship Game.
I began a Coaches Forum as a regular feature of our rule meetings. We would discuss our rules and then have a
presentation by local football coaches to help us understand how to improve the interaction between the
crews and coaches on game day. It was eye-opening and helped us become better officials on and off the field.
When the North Coast Football Clinic asked us to participate in its presentation, I assisted Bill Nahm and Larry Last as a clinician for 11 years, during which time the BAOA was involved with the clinics.
I refereed my first playoff game in Lima, followed by several years of two-game refereeing and one year when I was privileged to wear the “white hat” at a Regional Final contest.
In 2008, I began observing officials for the OHSAA football playoffs, and I also officiated playoff games until I retired from
active officiating in 2012. I continued to work as an observer with Keith Newton for the SBC and OHSAA playoff officials from
2013 to 2018. I spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons by myself and retired. It wasn’t the same without Keith.
Finally, even though I was honored in 2013 to be the first Life Member of BAOA, I never did anything as a licensed official that was about ME. It was always about the US and how we could leave the AssoAssociationter than we found it. To this day, I am proudest when I see an official that I helped in some small way as a rookie and now a respected member of our avocation.
Bill Nahm- 2024 HOF
1972- I played for Clearview High School in the first ‘computer decided’ playoff game.
I played in the first state semi-finals against Middletown Fenwick. The game was played at
Upper Arlington High School Stadium. We won the game and moved on to the state championship
game.
1972-1977: I missed being around football and thought you had to be 21 years old to officiate.
I waited until 1977 before I ordered the books and took the officials test. There were no classes or study
groups in the area at that time (new officials were on their own). I took the test in the
Association secretary’s kitchen. Due to work I could not make the meeting for the regular test.
After playing in 1972, in 2003 I worked the line judge position for the 2003 state semi-finals on the same
field at Upper Arlington Stadium. I worked as referee and crew chief at the 1992 Ohio High School All-Star Game.
1977-1993 I was a member of the Northern Ohio Football Officials Association, serving as President
in 1991. It was a roller coaster 16 years with the NOFOA; a lot of politics, infighting and conflicts with
other officials and assigning secretaries. In 1993 I voiced my opinion and was blacklisted from four
conferences. I quit the NOFOA.
1994 – I kept my card but sat out a year.
1995 - I joined the BAOA and worked five games with four different crews.
1996 - I was asked to join the Newton/Jeffrey crew, I spent the next 14 years with this crew (and
everything was perfect).
1998 I was asked to be the football mechanics instructor and held that position until I retired in 2010.
From 1991 through 2015 I worked with OHSAA as a clinic instructor, a member of the OHSAA training and
the education committee, and a playoff game ‘official observer.
2005-2010 I helped George Kurlic mentor new officials during freshman and junior varsity games.
I was Co-Founder and clinician of the North Coast Football Officials’ Clinic a clinic in 1994 that lasted 13
years. The clinic started with 6 attendees at Clearview High School. It then moved to Firelands High School
and had 20 attendees. In 1996 BAOA members joined the clinic staff and the NCFOC continued to grow. At
Oberlin College the clinic had 100 attendees. Lastly it was held at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in
Berea and had 200 attendees.
I worked the final on-field game of my officiating career on October 29, 2010 at Port Clinton High School.
Andrew (Andy) Nappi- 2024 HOF
Born on July 22, 1950 in Ashtabula, Ohio
Education: Graduated from Ashtabula High School 1968
Sports played in high school: Football, Basketball
and Baseball
Graduated from Kent State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree
Sports played in college: Member of KSU Baseball Team
Graduated from Ashland University in 1989 with an MBA degree
Marital Status: Ruth (wife) 46 years, four children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild
Employment History: 1972-1979 Sales Representative, Hoerner Waldorf (corrugated box
manufacturer), Jefferson, Ohio
Moved to Sandusky in 1974 due to my job
1979-2007: Account Executive, Sun Chemical Corporation (manufacturer of printing inks), Cleveland, Ohio
2007-2016: Account Manager, American Ink and Technology (manufacturer of printing
inks), Kalamazoo, Michigan
Retired 2016
Hobbies: Enjoying my grandchildren, golfing, gardening and traveling
Officiating Experience and Membership Organizations:
OHSAA Registered Basketball Official 43 years,
Registered Baseball Official 3 years
- Northeastern Ohio Basketball Officials Association
- Northeastern Ohio Baseball Officials Association
- Bay Area Officials Association, member 35+ years, past
President, Vice-President and Mechanics Instructor
- IAABO International Association of Approved Basketball Officials
- OABO Ohio Association of Basketball Officials
- OHSAA Regional Girls State Basketball Tournament Observer (Lexington, Ontario)
- College Officiating – Ohio Athletic Conference, 1980s
- Basketball Observer for Larry Morrison, Officials Assigner of the Great Lakes League, 1997-1999
- Sandusky Bay Conference Officials Assigner, 1999-2016
- Sandusky Bay Conference Basketball Observer, Current
2024 BAOA Hall of Fame Class
2023 BAOA Hall of Fame Inaugural Induction Class
Dennis Foltz- 2023 HOF
Denny Foltz was a member of the Bay Area Officials Association for 49 years. Denny officiated many sports and was always willing to help better those around him. He officiated football for 49 years, basketball for 27 years, baseball for two years, and soccer for one year. Denny made many contributions to the association, including being a founding member of the football clinic in Lorain that Larry Last started. He also officiated in the football playoffs for one year. It is safe to say that Denny was the guy everyone went to for help. He volunteered at Perkins to run the clock for all varsity games. One of Denny’s favorite memories while officiating was when he worked a game with his son. Denny worked his first varsity game in 1978 in the Lakeland Conference. He credits his wife, Ruth, for always supporting his officiating career. Back in the day, the ADs and assigners would call Ruth to schedule Denny his games.
Larry Last- 2023 HOF
Larry Last was a member of the Bay Area Officials Association for roughly 25 years; he started officiating in 1981. Larry officiated basketball and football and was a 30-year member of the OHSAA. Larry served as a rule interpreter for 20 years at an unnamed association. He also taught a football officiating class at Lorain Community College. Larry founded the North Coast Football Clinic, which helped train new officials; this event was ahead of its time. Larry found ways to serve the association even during the offseason by holding a football rules study meeting — inviting numerous crews to participate. He always made a point to bring new officials along with his crew. Larry was an expert on rules and mechanics before the Gold Book existed. He worked numerous OHSAA Playoff games — the highest level being the regional final. Larry held a Class 1 license in four states: Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He also was a College football referee for 12 years in the IAC, Great Lakes, and OAC D2 and D3. To round off his impressive resume, Larry also officiated basketball for about 20 years, working many playoff games. Larry carried out a remarkable officiating career and gave back to his community. He coached youth basketball and baseball for ten years, served as an airline transport pilot, and was an involved member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Dan Major- 2023 HOF
Dan Major was initially a member of the Firelands Area Officials Association and the Mansfield Area Officials Association from 1973-1978. He became a member of the Bay Area Officials Association in 1978 and was a member for 20 years. He served as the Rules Interpreter and the Instructor for new basketball officials for the BAOA from 1988-1998 and 1990-1995, respectively. Dan earned the privilege of officiating boy’s and girl’s All-Star games numerous times, as well as officiating the 1989 Mansfield News-Journal Boy’s All-Start game. Dan was a 10-time OHSAA Girl’s Regional tournament official from 1988-1998 and a 3-time OHSAA Girl’s State tournament official — 1990-Division II semi-finals, 1991-Division II semi-finals, and 1992 Division I state final. He received the OHSAA basketball official 25-year service award and the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association 1998 Ohio Official of the Year for girls’ basketball. One of Dan’s greatest thrills was the 1992 OHSAA Division I State Championship game. Over 10,000 fans in the St. John’s Arena set the record for the largest crowd to witness a girls’ basketball game in state history.
Don Nardecchia- 2023 HOF
Don Nardecchia was a member of the Bay Area Officials Association for 40 years, from 1977-2017. He was elected to the Executive Board three times, serving 3-year terms each time. Throughout his time in the association, he held many positions, including Vice President, President, Past President, mechanics interpreter, and rules interpreter. Don began his officiating career for basketball in 1977. He completed his first varsity basketball game in Feb 1978 at New London against Black River High School. In the summer of 1978, Don began his football officiating career, completing his first varsity game in 1979 as a Back Judge at Port Clinton against Bellevue High School. He spent 37 years officiating basketball. He earned eight regional and many boys’ post-season assignments throughout his career. Don also worked his final three seasons with JV officials teaching them 3-man mechanics. He created the Bay Area 3-man officiating clinic in June 1997. This clinic was designed to introduce officials to 3-man mechanics at no cost. It ran as a way to ‘pay it forward,’ and Don organized it for 14 years. He spent ten years as a collegiate Women’s basketball official from 1991-2001, serving in 3 leagues.
Don began his football officiating career in 1979 and officiated for 38 years. He spent 29 years as a back judge, nine years as a line judge, and a referee whenever needed. He worked on the same crew for 32 years with Keith Newton and Rick Jeffery. His first post-season assignment was in November 1985 at Bellevue, where Seneca East faced off against St. Joe High School. Don worked 45 post-season assignments. He served on the North Coast Football Officials Clinic committee for ten years and as a breakout lead official for six of the ten years. This clinic began with only six campers and six clinicians. In time they grew to nearly 225 campers, along with 36 pro, collegiate, and high school clinicians outgrowing high school and college venues until they held the clinic at the Cleveland Browns indoor training facility. Don’s highest honor was representing Ohio officials at the 2005 Big 33 Football Classic at Historic Hersheypark Stadium.
Keith Newton - 2023 HOF
Keith Newton was a member of the Bay Area Officials Association for 50 years. He officiated football for 50 years and basketball for 40 years. Keith served as the BAOA secretary for 30 years, from 1980-2010, and implemented the BAOA Yahoo Group for the association. Keith officiated in the football regionals for 26 years from 1986 to 2006, the football state semi-final for two years in 2005 and 2006, and the football state final in 2006. He also served as a football SBC and OHSAA tournament observer from 2013-2018.