The NASO Inspire Award is presented to those who by their actions bring about inspiration, pride and a confirmation of the values cherished by the officiating community.
Candidates of special interest can be those who are exemplary in their roles of training, educating and supporting sports officials.
Candidates of special interest can be those who, while not from within the officiating community, confirm the values of: the highest ethical standard, integrity, fairness and impartiality.
While the award can be presented posthumously, we believe it better serves its purpose to be presented to someone living.
Past Recipients of NASO’s Inspire Award
2020-2021: Jerry Markbreit
Jerry Markbreit, Skokie, Ill., former NFL referee, was selected by NASO as the inaugural recipient of the Inspire Award. Markbreit, the 2007 Gold Whistle recipient, had a 23-year NFL officiating career spanning 461 games and four Super Bowls. Currently, he works as a trainer focusing on football officials in the Big Ten, Mid-American and Missouri Valley conferences. Prior to that, Markbreit worked as an assistant supervisor and trainer in the NFL office.
“I was honored,” Markbreit said. “When you get old and your career is way in the past, honorarium is few and far between. NASO has always been very kind to me. It’s a very nice honor.”
“Jerry was a unanimous choice to be the first recipient because of his life, his career and his decades-long support of sports officials have and continue to inspire us all,” said NASO founder and president Barry Mano. “Sports officiating is so much better off for having been inspired by Jerry, his personal ethic, his officiating standards and his caring for anyone who undertakes the task of being a sports official.”
Markbreit trained and mentored hundreds of officials, both at the collegiate and professional level, over his storied career. Even in his eighties, he continues to share his passion for officiating and having him as part of the Collegiate Officiating Consortium (COC) is something COC coordinator of officials and former NFL referee Bill Carollo most cherishes about Markbreit.
“How often can you say you have the best in our industry on your team?” Carollo said. “And he is there devoting 100 percent of his time and energy with officials who strive to improve with every game and every season. Most people do not realize, not only is he terrific at football matters, but what a great person he is outside of football. Jerry and his wife, Bobbie, are huge supporters of multiple charities. Jerry is an official’s friend but also friends with all walks in life. He never discriminates and truly accepts everyone as his equal. He has inspired millions of people for not what he has accomplished but for who he really is — an inspiration to all.”
2022: Bobby Dibler
Bobby Dibler, El Paso, Texas, NCAA Division I men’s basketball officiating coordinator for multiple conferences, was selected by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) as the 2022 recipient of the Inspire Award. The award was in Denver, Colo., on Tuesday, Aug. 2, during the Celebrate Officiating Gala, sponsored by Fox 40 International. The Gala caps the 2022 Sports Officiating Summit.
Dibler is the coordinator of men’s basketball officials for the Western Officiating Consortium, which includes the Big Sky, Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, Western Athletic and West Coast conferences. He officiated Division I men’s basketball from 1973-93, working 14 NCAA tournaments and three Final Fours, including two championship games. He was the 2019 recipient of the Naismith Men’s College Official of the Year Award.
Integrity, professionalism and inner strength are hallmarks of Dibler’s career on and off the court. His courage in the wake of great personal tragedy inspires others to this day.
“I have known Bobby for decades. He was one fine college basketball referee,” said Barry Mano, NASO president. “His life was tragically interrupted with the murder of his daughter and wife in 2000. Most of us would have folded up in our grief. Bobby did not. From those ashes he regained his strength and went on to become one of the most respected college basketball officiating coordinators anywhere. If you are an official, working assignments for Bobby Dibler is a mark of distinction. To this day he serves as an inspiration — what strength of character and grit can enable in each of us.”
“I was more than surprised to hear Barry Mano tell me I had been named the recipient of the Inspire Award,” Dibler said. “I was in disbelief, wondering what I had done to receive this prestigious award. I’m just Bobby Dibler, living my life and treating everyone with kindness and respect. Still in awe.”
2022: Tom Robinson
“Tom Robinson served as Colorado High School Activities Association Assistant Commissioner and NASO Board Chair.
Tom touched lives of people in athletics, performing arts, politics, law enforcement, education, and everything in between in a significant way. He was remembered by the Colorado State Legislature and United States Senate in formal decrees. Tom was a man of few words, but his presence was truly larger than life. Relationships with Tom were never surface. They were deep and meaningful, and we were all better human beings because we knew him.
There will never be another Tom Robinson. May we all keep his spirit of generosity, kindness, humility, and compassion as guiding principles in our lives and may the celebration of him continue through remembering him and loving one another.
Tom Robinson — you will be missed.”
~ Dana Pappas, NFHS Director of Officiating Services and NASO Board member