By Liam Fenwick, Reporter
On any given fall Friday night, Russell Johnson can be found officiating a high school football game. Johnson has been officiating Nebraska high school football games for over 20 years and shows no signs of slowing down.
Johnson is the white hat official and the leader of his Omaha based referee crew. Johnson and his crew officiate high school games in the Eastern Nebraska region.
Last Friday night, the crew officiated a game in Palmer, Nebraska. Although a long distance from Omaha, Johnson said working with his crew is worth the long drive.
“It’s awesome. I got four guys that I really do care for a lot. They mean a lot to me and it’s a special bond we have,” Johnson said.
Being a high school referee is not a sustainable full time job, though. According to the Eastern Nebraska Officials Association, football referees can only work one to three games a week.
Johnson considers refereeing his part-time job. During the daytime, Johnson works for Immigration Customs and Enforcement.
Johnson said he keeps officiating because he loves the game.
“For me, it’s the love for the game. The love for the officials that I have taught, to see them go on to be good officials. To go on to see them be college officials. That’s my love, to see them go to be really good officials,” said Johnson.
First year referee Joe Cassidy said Johnson has helped him grow as an official.
“Shawn Jonston, the president of P.S.O.A., Premiere Sports Officiating Association, recommended that I try out for football. I had availability on Friday nights. He threw me on Russell Johnson’s crew, crew seven. Just to learn, to see, and develop as a football official.” said Cassidy.
Johnson plans to continue officiating high school games for at least five more years as long as his knees stay healthy.
