Larry attended Whitworth University. He was a third grade teacher in the Deer Park school district. He also coached basketball at the high school and set up a Roadrunners club in the district to get runners ready for Bloomsday. He worked his way up in college football and had been hired by the Pac-10 prior to his passing. His good buddy Steve Wilson and Larry had mirrored each other from YMCA, high school, small college and then hired in the Pac around the same time. Steve Wilson also officiated in the NFL for several years so who knows what Larry could have gone on to do in his football career. The Larry Becker/Chic Sale award will be given out later tonight. It has been named in his honor for many years.

After graduating from Eastern Montana University in Billings, Bill came to the Spokane area for graduate studies at Whitworth, Eastern Washington, and University of Washington. Bill was a teacher at three area High Schools: West Valley, North Central, and Shadle Park. He officiated basketball at the small college level and college football  at the Big Sky and PAC-10 level. He officiated an East-West Shriners game prior to passing away at the young age of 48.

Scott was born in Japan and graduated from High School in Germany as his Father was in the military. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Business Management Degree. He worked for 28 years with Western United Life Assurance Company. He was a football official for 34 years at the high school and college level, working as high as the Big Sky Conference level. He also served as the assigner for three years. He was the first official that I (Joel Murphy) met in 2002 as we rode to Kettle Falls together since he was leading the state clinic that night. Throughout his career he received many association awards such as the Larry Becker Award.

Jack grew up in Wisconsin and played football as a Badger for the University of Wisconsin in 1942. He served in the 75th infantry and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1949, he came out to teach and coach at Cheney High School. After teaching he sold life insurance and served as a Justice of the Peace and City Council member in Cheney. His career of 42 years in officiating had many firsts. He officiated the first basketball game at the Old Coliseum and the first football game at Joe Albi. In 1958, he was able to officiate the Harlem Globetrotters game in Spokane. One of the players in that game was Wilt Chamberlain.

George was a graduate of Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University. He served in World War II and the Korean War. He was a schoolteacher for Spokane Public Schools. He enjoyed playing golf at Liberty Lake. He was a charter member of the Inland Empire Athletic Officials Association. He officiated for 44 years in high school and college.

Ben was a graduate of Stadium HS and the College of Puget Sound (now UPS). He was a Special Agent with the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. He moved to Spokane in 1964 where he was a Sales Manager and Advertising Director. Ben started officiating in 1960 in Tacoma and officiated a total of 42 years for football and basketball. He was elected into the WOA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Jack, like many other officials, attended Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University. His studies at GU were interrupted by a three-year stint as a Marine in World War II. After college, he went into the insurance business and officiated his first game at Riverside High School earning a whopping $3. He was one of the top referees in the PAC-10 as he officiated two Rose Bowls, including the 1967 classic when Purdue, with Bob Griese, defeated the USC Trojans.

Denny was born in Wallace, Idaho and later moved to Spokane where he was a multi-sport star at North Central High School. He entered the Navy shortly after where he met, as they say, "The love of his life," Eunice. After the Navy he worked driving semi-trucks short and long haul. He officiated high school and major college football and basketball. He was in the Big Sky and the Pac for 33 years. He officiated two NCAA 1-AA Championships and after retiring off the field, he was an evaluator at Eastern Washington for the Sky. After that, he became part of the extended family at EWU as their equipment semi-truck driver. Like many fathers that loved officiating, he has passed that love down to his sons, and grandson. Through the obituary that I (Joel Murphy) read, his love for his family and supporting them in athletics and in life stood out.

John was a multi-sport standout at Gonzaga Prep and then played as a first baseman for Gonzaga University. He turned down a contract with the Boston Red Sox to teach and coach at Gonzaga Prep in 1949. He began officiating in the 1950s and became a regular football and basketball official in the Big Sky and Pac Conferences. He officiated two Rose Bowls and an East-West Shriners game as well.

Ray was known as "Pooch" to many close friends and family members. He attended Arlington Elementary and then Rogers High School in 1954. He loved sports and played many games at Harmon Park on Market St. Between 1958 and 1961 he served with the U.S. Army. After that he returned to Spokane and picked up sports once again. When he wasn't playing or managing fast-pitch softball with the Ziegler's team, he was officiating. During the 1970's and 80's he officiated at the PAC-10 basketball and football levels. Throughout his life the Hillyard area was close by. He enjoyed his favorite golf course "Essie" with friends and worked for the railroad, based at the Hillyard shop.

Chic graduated from Central Valley High School in 1945 as a three-sport athlete, excelling in basketball and helping the Bears to district and state championships. He attended Eastern Washington College and as a freshman was a member of their championship basketball team. Later that year he was drafted into the US Army where he spent the next two years. After the Army, he returned to Eastern Washington earning a degree in education. Chic taught and coached in the Central Valley School District for over 30 years and worked as an official for 52 years. Twenty two of those years he was a college official and officiated one Rose Bowl. He is a member of multiple (17 to be exact) Hall of Fames throughout the Northwest. In the late 90s/early 2000s, he was also the assignor for lEFOA. His name is also part of the Larry Becker/Chic Sale award given each year. Lastly, he always started the year with a speech about professionalism as the year began. That speech is continued by a veteran official to this day at the beginning of the year.

Jack was born in Weeping Water, Nebraska weighing in at 3.5 pounds. He joined the Marine Corps out of High School and was selected for the Corp Band as a trumpet player. After the Marines, he graduated from Kansas State University where he officiated basketball, Motball, and baseball. He moved several times after that with his wife Mardelle, and eventually settled in Spokane in 1967 where he worked for Equifax and as an investigator for the US Government. He continued officiating in Spokane where he was a member of the IEFOA for 48 years. He enjoyed officiating and evaluating. He would come into the training room at Albi with a red marked evaluation sheet and always complain if the game lasted more than two hours. He always had that smile while he did it. In total Jack officiated in seven different decades. I still think of the unwritten Jack Shagool rule as I get dressed for every game. No long sleeves prior to October 15th.