Kolbe Selected for NASO Mel Narol Medallion

Bill Kolbe, a retired attorney from Racine, Wis., was selected by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) as its 2007 Mel Narol Medallion recipient. The award is named after the late Mel Narol, a previous Medallion winner, attorney and longtime contributor to NASO. The award “recognizes an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the betterment of NASO.”

Kolbe has been serving NASO for more than 25 years. An original shareholder in Referee Enterprises, Inc. (REI), Kolbe has shared his business and legal expertise with the organization since NASO was founded in 1980.

“NASO presents the Mel Narol Medallion award to someone who has made a special contribution to the association. In the case of Bill Kolbe, the honor is especially deserved,” said Barry Mano, NASO president. “Bill has been in support of NASO from the very first day of its existence. In fact, Bill played a key role in the formation of NASO and continues to provide essential business and legal advice to the organization. Bill’s impact has greatly enhanced the influence and the well-being of NASO.”

Mano first consulted Kolbe in 1975 about the formation of a company to begin publishing Referee magazine. It was during that meeting that Mano also shared with Kolbe the vision for NASO. From the beginning, NASO was to be owned by its members and not by any individual or a privately held corporate organization. The form and structure of NASO contains a lot of scripting by Kolbe.

“I worked with Barry from the start of NASO, and when a person is instrumental in the design of anything, that person wants to see it work,” said Kolbe. “Then, when the work it does is meritorious and worthwhile, that makes the endeavor important. So it is with NASO and me.

“NASO membership has grown from zero to 18,000. It has achieved respect and provides important benefits to both its members and the officiating industry with the best yet to come.”

Kolbe is the sixth recipient of the Mel Narol Medallion. Past winners, in addition to Narol, include Jerry Seeman, retired NFL senior director of officiating; Fox 40 International; Dick Honig, owner of Honig’s Whistle Stop and retired Big 10 and Mid-American Conference football official; and Marcy Weston, retired NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating.

Kolbe 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 Marriott Tech Center.

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