Markbreit Selected for 2007 NASO Gold Whistle Award

RACINE, Wis. — Retired NFL referee Jerry Markbreit was named by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) as the recipient of its 2007 NASO Gold Whistle Award. Markbreit’s onfield career ended after the 1998 season, but his association with officiating is ongoing.

“The Gold Whistle Award recognizes contributions to community, but also bears special witness to contributions made on behalf of sports officiating itself,” said NASO President Barry Mano. “It is in that last regard that our industry has had no better ambassador than Jerry Markbreit.”

Markbreit will receive the award July 31, at a banquet that serves as the culmination to the NASO Sports Officiating 2007 Summit. The Summit is July 29-31 at the Denver Tech Center Marriott.

Markbreit said he was honored because of what the Gold Whistle represents. “It’s the Academy Award of officiating,” he said.

Markbreit was an NFL referee for 23 years. His stellar career included four Super Bowls, two Wild Card games, 10 divisional playoff tilts, eight conference championship games and one Pro Bowl. Almost 10 years after his retirement, Markbreit is still one of the most recognizable officials. He has authored books, appeared in movies and TV commercials and answers rules-based questions in a column that appears in the Chicago Tribune. Markbreit continues to be a much-sought-after speaker on officiating and non-officiating matters.

“What’s kept me involved in officiating all of these years has been the feeling that I need to give back,” Markbreit said. “You owe that to officiating. Anybody who’s achieved anything in officiating got there because somebody helped them.”

Since the formation of NASO in 1980, Markbreit has been one of its most passionate supporters. He is a frequent presenter and speaker at NASO Summits.

Markbreit, a resident of Skokie, Ill., currently serves as a trainer for NFL referees. “I’m very gratified that I’ve received letters from people who say I have helped them,” he said.

The NASO Gold Whistle Award, which is officiating’s highest honor, was created in 1987 by the NASO board of directors. Some of the previous NASO Gold Whistle Award winners include: former Director of NFL Officiating Art McNally; NCAA Division I men’s basketball official Ed Hightower; former NFL officials Jim Tunney, Tom Dooley and Bob McElwee; former NBA official Tommy Nunez and current NBA official Bob Delaney; former major league umpire Larry Barnett and current major league umpire Larry Young. Last year, The V Foundation’s “Blow the Whistle on Cancer” campaign received the award.

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