Page 61 - Flathead Beacon // 11.4.15

SPORTS
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EARLY EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT in fall for the last 60 years, Gor- don Schlabs has found himself at
a football eld one way or another.
It all began when he was a teenager growing up in Kalispell and learning the sport at Rawson Field, home of the vaunted Flathead Braves football team. It was there where he developed a love for the sport, watching the great Flathead teams of the 1950s play for state titles. Only a few years later, when Schlabs was a senior in 1958, he helped guide the Braves to the Class AA state champion- ship. Over the next six decades, football took Schlabs across the state, to Montana State University where he kept playing and to other cities, such as Laurel and Billings, where he coached high school
teams.
Last Friday night, it all came full cir-
cle as Schlabs, 74, took the eld in Leg- ends Stadium, formerly Rawson Field, and earned well-deserved recognition for 35 years as a coach and educator and 20 years as an o cial for the Montana High School Association.
Schlabs was honored alongside Terry Reece, of Rexford, and James Magness, of Evergreen, who together boast nearly 100 years of service as high school foot- ball o cials.
The three men received commemo- rative footballs at mid eld and rousing applause from the crowd before Flat- head’s game against Missoula Sentinel in the regular-season nale.
“A lot of good memories,” Schlabs said. “It’s all about loving the game as well as the people. That’s the biggest thing.”
The men are part of a group of 396 o - cials across the state who play a vital role in high school football.
Last week’s celebration was bitter- sweet for some who worry about the num- ber of high school o cials continuing to dwindle. In recent years, the regional pool of football refs has dropped from nearly 30 to barely 15.
“There’s so much knowledge and expe- rience that goes out the door when guys like (Schlabs, Reece and Magness) retire. The scary part is without having the peo- ple step up and ll their shoes, how do you regain that?” said Chris Parson, director of the Flathead Valley Football O cial Pool.
Being an o cial can be a thankless job and it sure doesn’t make anybody rich. O cials earn $60 for varsity games and receive some compensation for travel.
Instead, the o cials are motivated by their desire to give back to the sport and make sure the younger generation enjoys safe competition, Parson said.
“It can be tough with their jobs and family time. But the folks who are in our pool have been extremely excited about being out there and are motivated for the kids. That’s why we’re doing it,” Parson said.
As perfect examples of the ideal ref, Parson points to the three men honored
There are 396 o cials across the state who play a vital role in high school football, but the number of local o cials has declined in recent years. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
last week.
Schlabs went right into coaching after
college and spent several years as a foot- ball and wrestling coach in Laurel, Liv- ingston, Helena and Billings. In 1999, he retired and moved back home to the Flathead Valley. But his passion for foot- ball continued and he picked up o ciat- ing football games. He went on to earn the highest certi cation in the state as a Master o cial in recent years and worked playo games in the twilight of his career. He worked his nal varsity game in 2014 at the age of 73.
Reece grew up in Deer Lodge and played football at MSU-Northern, where he graduated in 1974. His start in o ci- ating came in the Eureka school system where he was active as a coach and ath- letic director. After retirement, he also wanted to stay active and give back to the game he loves.
He o ciated for 33 years while living in Eureka and was a long-distance mem- ber of the Flathead Valley Football O - cial Pool. He worked four state champi- onship games in his tenure and earned the distinction of being arguably the best football umpire in Montana. He stepped away from o ciating in 2013 because of health issues.
He said his proudest moment was working the AA state football champion- ship together with his son, Shane, a fellow Master o cial.
Magness was born and raised in Ana- conda and served in the U.S. Army before graduating from Montana State Univer- sity in 1969. He began o ciating in 1970 when he was recruited as a teacher in Evergreen. He continued active o ciat- ing for 43 years.
Magness worked numerous state championship games at all class levels and earned a reputation for being a valu- able mentor for upstart o cials. He said his favorite memories involved traveling on away games with fellow o cials, such as Paul Jenkins. He said he is especially thankful for the many people he is able to call friends as part of his wonderful o - ciating journey.
“The reason I kept doing it was the camaraderie I had with all these fellows,” he said. “And it’s something you can give back to the game.”
For information about how to become an o cial, visit mhsa.org or call Chris Parson at 406-260-7204.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
“IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVING THE GAME AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE. THAT’S THE BIGGEST THING.”
- GORDON SCHLABS
NOVEMBER 4, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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From left, Terry Reece, Gordon Schlabs and James Magness were honored before the Braves’ Oct. 30 game in Legends Stadium for their many years of o ciating service. DILLON TABISH | FLATHEAD BEACON