Berry Roberts belongs in a high class of Tucson sports officials that includes his mentor, Boyd Baker, and distinguished long-time referees Bobby Rauh, Ralph Deal, Bud Grainger, Jim Fogltance, and on and on.
Last week, Roberts became the first Tucson sports official to receive the AIA’s Gary Whelchel Award, an honor named after the former commissioner of officials of the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
“I’m blown away,” said Roberts, who has officiated Tucson prep football games for 45 years and basketball games for 53 years. “I never expected any kind of recognition for what I do.”
Roberts, who was a math teacher in the TUSD for 43 years, still officiates boys and girls high school volleyball in Tucson. The Whelchel award is presented to the official who best demonstrates “ethics, mentorship and equality.”
Roberts got his start in Tucson coaching the middle school basketball team that included future NBA All-Star point guard Lafayette Lever, who went on to lead Pueblo High School to back-to-back state championships in 1977 and 1978.
“I officiated six state championship basketball games,” said Roberts, who grew up near Vancouver, Washington, and moved to Tucson, his father’s hometown, in 1970. “I don’t officiate any longer, but I do evaluate the officials at basketball games, from the freshman game to the varsity game. If I can help someone be a better official, I’m a happy man.”
