By Billy Crawford

On a Wednesday night in August of 1962, a meeting was held in DeRidder to form a basketball officials’ association to serve the schools in Allen, Vernon, and Beauregard Parishes.

At this meeting, the following officers and Board were elected to serve for the coming year: Jerry West, President; L.B. “Frenchy” Governale, Vice-President; Blair Nicholas, Commissioner; Board of Directors – L.J. Hebert, L.P. McKeller, E.A. Phelps and Amos Cowart.

The DBOA then became affiliated with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association according to T. H. “Muddy” Waters, Commissioner of the LHSAA.

Prior to 1962 and the formation of the DeRidder Basketball Association, local schools were responsible for providing two referees for their home games. As I recall, most of our LHS home games in 1961 were called by “Frenchy” Governale and Robert “Bob” Moss (who later became a long-time Assignment Secretary.)

Fast forward to 1968, when I finished college. Mr. Curtis Bradshaw strongly encouraged me, as he did all Vernon Parish students, to return to teach in a Vernon Parish school. That Fall I also became a member of the DBOA.

All officials (we called ourselves ‘refs’ and we ‘called’ games) were required to attend a Rules Clinic and make a passing score on a State Rules Test. Beginners were required to call 10 or so Junior High or practice games before being assigned to call varsity games.

Once the basketball season began, all the state-sanctioned referees of the DBOA would meet every other Wednesday evening with the Assignment Secretary in DeRidder to receive our game assignments, written on index cards, for the next two weeks’ games. The refs assigned to the same game would then meet to coordinate travel plans.

There were three levels determined by years of experience and test score–Green, Red and Blue Patches. We were responsible for purchasing the black and white striped shirts, black pants, shoes, belt, and the all-important whistle.

As I recall, as a beginner with a Green Patch, the pay for calling a class C or B girls’ and boys’ game was $7.50. If each Ref drove to the game, we would split the travel money, based on mileage from DeRidder.
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Back then, and the tradition has continued, the area high schools have very successful basketball teams with talented student athletes, strong support of parents and community members, excellent coaching, and school administrators and School Board members who encourage these activities.

I enjoyed very much the time spent calling local basketball games. A special treat was getting to know fellow refs, working together as a team just as much as the players and coaches did.

A special time was on Friday nights following the games when a number of Refs would meet up at Suzie’s Steak House to unwind and enjoy sharing a large order of her famous “onion rings” and a cold drink. Richard Carter, Jeff Laughlin, Phil Jones, and I were regulars.

The DBOA served the schools faithfully for thirty-two years. In 1995, the West Central Basketball Officials Association was formed.

Without Refs, there would be no Storied Vernon Parish Basketball History.