Longtime teacher and coach Jerry Becker has also spent time as a certified official for the state, and apparently he must like it as he is now in his 62nd year and likely is one of the longest serving sports officials in Iowa. He also has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
“I will miss the contact with the kids and coaches,” stated Becker when asked what he will miss when and if he does step away from the job. “As long as I can, I want to keep on going. God has been good to me. I’m still healthy, and I’ve also been very lucky to have some good partner officials to work with. If you can get one you like and trust that really helps.”
Becker got his start at this when he was a student at Westmar College, where he took a course in officiating. He has done high school events over the years, and now primarily middle school sports. “I couldn’t begin to guess how many games I’ve done,” he said. “With two a night, it would be many hundreds.”
After all of that, he still enjoys the position. “I have fun, and look forward to being around the kids and seeing their reactions,” said Becker. “I always strive to call the game fairly and the best I can. The main thing is that you want as good an experience for the kids as possible.”
Needless to say he has had a few interesting experiences over the years. One that he recalls occurred when he and partner Frank Tanner were working a basketball game at Bishop Garrigan in Algona. It was when the tornado went through,” he said. “We took the teams into a crawl space under the school, then Frank and I headed for home. We ran down the road just ahead of it.”
He feels being a coach has helped make him a better official. “I’ve officiated basketball, baseball, softball and have been a track starter,” said Becker. “When you’re on both sides you get a better perspective of what each does. I can appreciate the pressure a coach is under and also appreciate the important job an official does.”
He’s also well aware of the statewide shortage of new, younger officials. “It’s true in every sport,” said Becker. “An AD called me recently and wanted to hire me for a track meet. He said he couldn’t find anyone. The attitude of society nowadays towards officiating is the biggest problem.” When asked about all the verbal abuse, Becker feels people watch too much television. “They think they’re watching the NBA at a high school game,” he said. “Officials are not meant to be a part of the show in high school sports.”
He feels athletics are important in making for a well-rounded student. “It means everything to the kids,” said Becker. “The things they learn will stay with them and will make them better at life beyond high school. The more you put in the more you get out. It can make you a success in any job you choose.” He admits he needs to be a little careful to not let too much of the teacher in him come out. “With middle school athletes, you can tell them things like keep the hands off or stay out of the lane,” he said. “Not when it comes to the high school games.”
He also has some advice for anyone interested in trying to help that shortage mentioned earlier and become an official. “Attend a rules meeting, take the test and get qualified,” he said. “Then dive in and see whether you like it or not. You’ll never know until you try!”
Gloria, his wife for many years, has known how important this was to him and tried to support him while raising their family. “We always planned things around him being gone,” she said. “The children and I went to some movies without him, but for the most part we just looked upon it as a job. I can’t remember that any actual sacrifices were made. It’s what he liked and wanted to do.”
