Bob Beetz Biography

Bob Beetz started officiating in 1941 at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts where the game of basketball originated. The original “East Gym” still stands to this day and Bob took part in a reenacted game there during his 40^th class reunion. Bob enrolled in basketball coach John Bunn’s sports officiating class that year. John was Bob’s class advisor when he earned his Master’s Degree and wrote a thesis concerning “free throw shooting.” Earlier, John Bunn was coaching at Stanford and with the help of Hank Luisetti won three consecutive NCAA Championships. This is where Bob “got the bug” and started officiating intramural and recreation games at and around Springfield College. Bob didn’t limit his officiating to just basketball; he also did football, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing, lacrosse, softball, hockey and other sports that needed to be officiated! This soon led to high school, academy and small college games.

Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps and continued to officiate as time permitted. Many of the service men were college and professional athletes of many different sports. Ted Williams, one of Bob’s all time favorites was a fellow “marine” in the 3^rd Air Wing Marine Division. After the war Bob migrated from the East to the West Coast—Modesto for his 1^st job and then eventually to the Bay Area. Bob has been in the Bay Area since 1949 and continues to reside in Richmond.

Bob and his wife Doris owned West Coast Church Supplies for 18 years and Bob managed to put in 1 year of graduate school at the University of California while he worked. Bob also taught P.E. and coached for 35 years plus “moonlighted” at several other jobs—and of course, officiated several sports (both men & women) at all levels from youth thru the pro ranks. When the Golden State Warriors originally moved to the Bay Area they played at the Richmond Auditorium and Bob was one of the officials. Over the years Bob has done many rules, mechanics and on-court clinics for many different sports. It was only recently that Bob gave up officiating levels above the high school age, but he still continues to officiate adult recreation leagues in softball and basketball. It is obvious that Bob doesn’t officiate for the money but rather for the “fun.”

What does the future hold for Bob in officiating? Right now Bob is enjoying another season of football and volleyball and is looking forward to junior high school basketball in the winter. In the Spring of 2001 Bob will continue with high school volleyball and women’s fast pitch softball. Yes, you can find Bob at many sports venues around the East Bay! Will he be “hanging it up anytime soon?” According to Bob this thought has only crossed his mind occasionally and then it’s time to get ready for the next season.

It was with great pleasure that the East Bay Basketball Association created the “Bob Beetz Award” to honor EBBOA officials who have given so much to the craft of officiating and to the EBBOA. There is no better role model for this award than Bob Beetz!

Click Here to See the Bob Beetz Award Winners