Gerald Austin

Infobox Person
name = Gerald Austin


image_size = 250px
caption =
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
education =
occupation = NFL official (1982–2008)
Supervisor of Officials, C-USA
spouse = Marriedcite web | title=NFL ref. still enjoying role of a little boy | url=http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/NEWSREC0105/705200322/1021/GTCOM | publisher="Greensboro News & Record" | date=2007-05-20 | accessdate=2007-06-04]
parents =
children = Six children
nationality = USA

Dr. Gerald "Gerry" Austin (born c. 1941) was an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 1982 NFL season.cite news | title=MAN IN MOTION: REFEREE MAKES SUPER CALLS | url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-696007_ITM | first=Bill | last=Hass | publisher="Greensboro News & Record" | date=2001-02-19 | accessdate=2007-09-03] He wore uniform number 34. Austin has officiated in three Super Bowls, two as a referee and one as a side judge. He was also notable being the referee in the between the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills, which would later become known in NFL lore as "The Comeback" for being the greatest comeback by a team in league history. Austin's 2007 NFL officiating crew consists of Ruben Fowler, Ed Camp, Carl Johnson, Scott Edwards, Al Riveron, and Bob Lawing.cite web | title=National Football League Game Summary: Miami Dolphins At New Orleans Saints | url=http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29509/NO_Gamebook.pdf | publisher=National Football League | date=2007-08-30 | accessdate=2007-09-03]

Personal

Austin has a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Western Carolina University and has a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.cite web | title=Gerald Austin | url=http://www.footballofficialscamp.com/staffbios/austin_gerald.htm | publisher=Football Officials Camps | accessdate=2007-09-03] He is also a retired public school administrator for thirty years.cite web | title=Gerald Austin | url=http://www.ncshof.org/inductees_detail.php?i_recid=265 | publisher=North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame | accessdate=2007-09-03] Outside of officiating in the NFL, he is the coordinator of football officials for Conference USA. He resides in Summerfield, North Carolina and has six children.

Officiating career

Early years

Before joining the NFL, Austin served nine years as a basketball and football official in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He was assigned to officiate in the 1978 Liberty Bowl and the 1977 Orange Bowl.

National Football League

Austin began working in the NFL as a side judge where he officiated Super Bowl XXIV in 1990 before being promoted to the referee position beginning with the 1990 NFL season upon the death of referee Dick Jorgensen, who, coincindentally, was the referee in Super Bowl XXIV. Austin worked his first Super Bowl as a referee in 1997 at Super Bowl XXXI and his second appearance was at Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. He served as an alternate referee in 1995 at Super Bowl XXIXcite web | title=Super Bowl XXIX Boxscore | url=http://www.abbaroo.com/49ers/1994/super.html | accessdate=2007-09-03] and in 1999 at Super Bowl XXXIII.cite news | title=Kukar Named Game's Referee | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E3DC1F39F93AA15752C0A96F958260 | publisher="The New York Times" | date=1999-01-29 | accessdate=2007-09-03]

Austin is one of the league's most respected referees as he is a recipient of the Art McNally Award, which goes to an NFL game official who exhibits exemplary professionalism, leadership and commitment to sportsmanship on and off the field.

References