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Topic: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Topic: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

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OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/14/2013 11:50:19 PM

My son and I were watching the Indy-Tenn game this evening to get a few glimpses of Brazill. While watching the game I mentioned to him that in my youth we had two gentlemen who officiated in the NFL who lived in Athens. The name of one I remembered quickly -- Fred Swearingen, the man who owned the Court Street sporting goods store of the same name. The other, I'm drawing semi-blank on. I can't remember a first name at all, but I do recall that his last name began with a "K" and was something like Kessler, Kisler, Kessel, etc. Is there any other mature poster (aka old fart) on here who might remember this guy's name?

Swearingen became somewhat famous because he was the official who decided the famous "immaculate reception" play. As a result, he has his own Wikipedia page. The other guy is now probably in total obscurity.

I remember one Monday or Tuesday during football season when I walked into Jake's Hi-Boy on Court Street and found these two NFL officials sitting at the counter and talking football. I was probably in high school at the time. This made a real impression on me because I was proud that my hometown had two NFL officials.

The only other thing that I can remember about these guys in the NFL was that on one cold wintery day in probably the 1960s Swearingen was officiating a game in an ice-covered field in Chicago (Wrigley Field, I think) and he was running down the sidelines following a ball carrier. When the runner crossed the goal line Fred put his hands up to signal a TD and promptly slipped on the ice and landed on his butt. There was an AP wire photo the next day in papers across the country of Fred sliding on his butt with his hands in the air signaling a TD. It was quite funny. Today it would have been a You Tube hit!

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

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OhioCatFan
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RE: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/15/2013 5:17:58 PM

Couldn't find the photo of him falling on his butt as he signaled TD in Chicago, but I did find this one of him in action calling a fumble in a Pitt-Dallas game. Not sure the year. [Corrected based on BG86's astute observations]

Last Edited: 11/15/2013 6:07:38 PM by OhioCatFan

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/15/2013 5:42:34 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Couldn't find the photo of him falling on his butt as he signaled TD in Chicago, but I did find this one of him in action calling a fumble in a Pitt-Miami game. Not sure the year.

That is Dallas, not Miami. This is Bowl XIII in 1979 when he made the call against Benny Barnes which the NFL acknowledged was a mistake.

The umpire also set a beautiful pick on Charlie Waters for Franco on this touchdown.

OhioCatFan
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RE: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/15/2013 6:06:23 PM

You are right, BG86. Thanks for the correction. The source I got it from had it incorrectly labeled or I misread it.

Gov-Club
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RE: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/19/2013 5:19:07 PM

I thought there actually were more than two. After consulting with my "all things athens" source it was confirmed that there were three. The other two were Harry Kessell and Bob Bauer. What the historical guru pointed out to me was that all three lived on the same east side Athens street.

Was as there another town that had four? I doubt it.

Gov-Club
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RE: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/19/2013 5:35:04 PM

Slight update. The street was Avon Place. Special thanks to my unimpeachable source who also owns the cat's den where beer is ice cold and prices are cheap.

I just oust ran onto a fourth connection. mark Baltz is a current NFL referee from Lancaster who went to Ohio.

OhioCatFan
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RE: Who were Athens two NFL officials circa 1960-70?

Posted: 11/19/2013 7:23:28 PM

Thanks, Gov-Club, Kessell was the one I couldn't remember. I did remember that his last name started with a "K" so I was on the right track. If memory serves correct, Baur start his NFL officiating after the other two were established, but I think your source is right that at one time they were all three in the NFL at the same. I wonder if they all ever officiated the same game? That would be a very interesting bit of trivia. Ask your source about that one.

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