Sports Officials Honor Their Own

(NORFOLK, Va.) – NHL referee Paul Stewart is a tough guy but it is the softer side of Stewart that earned the coveted Gold Whistle Award for the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), Sunday night in Norfolk.

As Stewart became the 14th recipient of the NASO Gold Whistle Award, few in the audience were not fighting back tears as this year’s honoree strode to the podium to accept the community service award from NASO President Barry Mano and Chair Julie Ilacqua.

The stage had been set for the emotional outpouring as Fox 40 International Founder Ron Foxcroft and former NHL Supervisor of Officiating Bryan Lewis each gave moving testimonials about Stewart’s involvement and contributions to his fellow man.

"I always had to fight with Paul about his schedule because I would give him a day off to rest and then find out he was at a local hospital talking to kids with cancer," said Lewis. "I wanted him to rest, but he said that was ‘his way of resting.’"

The outpouring of love felt throughout the room came to a fevered pitch upon the completion of an eight-minute video donated by NHL Productions. The video shared the story of Stewart’s struggle to beat colon cancer and his return to officiating at the highest level of hockey. It shared footage from his pregame press conference, when he said that his struggle had made him promise himself to be "a better husband, a better father, a better person and even a better hockey referee."

Stewart has made good on that promise and the video was living proof. It showed Stewart talking to children at a cancer ward.

"I see some of you here are taking chemotherapy," Stewart says to the crowd of parents and children ranging from infants to teenagers. "I’ve been there myself. I’ve taken chemo and see, I’m OK. You can be, too!"

A particularly moving moment occurs when Stewart tells one boy, bald from chemotherapy sessions and no more than six years old, "Tonight when I go to center ice before the game I’m going to look up at the TV camera and wave – and I’ll be waving right to you!"

Words cannot describe the smile that breaks across the child’s face. The room erupts in oohs and ahs.

But speaking to cancer wards is not the only activity in which Stewart immerses himself when not on the ice. He has been a primary factor in the successful fundraising efforts of the "Hockey Fights Cancer" program and has contributed thousands of hours toward a local golf tournament in the Boston area in memory of his father, Bill, a former official.

In addition to the Gold Whistle Award, NASO presented for the first time its NASO Medallion, an award created to honor individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the association throughout the years. The inaugural recipient was former Senior Director of Officiating for the NFL Jerry Seeman.

The 65-year-old Seeman graciously accepted the award from Mano, who described Seeman as "a gentleman in the truest sense of the word – dedicated to family, to friends and to officiating."

Seeman’s contributions to officiating are well documented. He became director of officiating for the NFL in 1991 after serving in the NFL as an official for 16 years. He officiated high school basketball and football in his home state of Minnesota for more than 20 years.

Most notably known for having created the most extensive and comprehensive officiating evaluation program known to professional sports, Seeman was also a primary influence in the development of the current NFL instant replay system.

While in his leadership capacity at the NFL, Seeman worked with NASO to provide valuable insight into the NFL evaluation system and shared many of its philosophies so that organizations at lower levels can apply the same principles to improve their programs. Seeman often spoke at NASO conferences and was a willing advisor to the association on educational matters.

"Jerry was never secretive or selfish with his program," said Mano. "He was always willing to share and help others improve."

Seeman’s direction also assisted NASO in establishing a successful partnership with NFL Charities, the funding arm of the NFL for not-for-profit organizations and projects. NFL Charities has funded various NASO educational initiatives, including the NFL Youth Sports Preseason Football Publication that has been distributed to more than 30,000 officials in 2000, and will reach another 40,000 or more in 2001.

While Seeman may be retired from day-to-day activity at the NFL offices in New York, he will continue to serve as an advisor to the NFL officiating department. He plans to retire in the Minneapolis area, but will continue as an officiating observer on Sundays at NFL games this season.

"I worked with so many wonderful individuals while at the NFL and during my years maturing as an official," said Seeman. "Those friendships mean everything to me. You can’t take the officiating out of the soul overnight."

In retirement, Seeman will remain busy. In addition to serving the NFL as a consultant and game observer, Seeman begins a two-year term on the NASO board of directors effective June 19.

"I was never able to serve on the NASO board while with the NFL due to my day-to-day responsibilities," said Seeman. "Now, I look forward to working even more closely with the association in the coming years."