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Eugene S. "Gene" Calhoun - Official

03/01/1984, 12:00am CST
By Wisconsin Sports Network

Born October 15, 1924, Baraboo, WI

Attended Madison East High School, Graduate of University of Wisconsin Law School 1950

Gene is a practicing Attorney in the City of Madison for over 30 years.

He is a World War II veteran seeing combat action in the European Theatre as a navigator in the Air Force. He is a Lt. Colonel (Ret.) in the Air Force Reserves and served 4 years as Liaison Officer for the United States Air Force Academy.

He began officiating high school and college football and basketball in 1950. He was added to the Big Ten football officiating staff in 1962 mandatorily retiring after the 1980 season after 18 years and 192 Big Ten assignments.

Officiated in Wisconsin State Championship basketball tournament finals 18 years including final championship game six times. Referee, NAIA National Basketball Tournament, Kansas City, 1970 and 1971. Six times Referee WISAA Championship games, Milwaukee. Was Referee in: 1968 Rose Bowl Game; 1971 Cotton Bowl game. 1973 Sugar Bowl game. 1976 Rose Bowl game. 1980 Rose Bowl game. 1981 Orange Bowl game; and 1979 Michigan-Ohio State (largest on campus crowd in history of football 105,722). Only referee to ever officiate the Rose Bowl in three separate decades (1968, 1976, 1980), and only referee in the history of intercollegiate football to referee the "Grand Slam" of the Bowl games (Rose, Sugar, Cotton, and Orange Bowls).

Gene is a former President of the Board of Education, Joint District #8, Madison, Wisconsin serving six years. He then became the Supervisor of Football Officials for Big Ten Intercollegiate Conference and Wisconsin State University Conference.

He was inducted into the Wisconsin High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1983.

Tag(s): Hall of Fame