78 YEARS YOUNG: Referee's career has covered 60 years and more than 13,000 games

In a basketball officiating career that has covered more than 60 years, Granbury's Larry Pollard only has one regret – he didn't keep a diary.

"I think that's the one thing that I should have done," Pollard said. "I wish I had kept a diary of all the things that happened."

Some of those happenings included officiating at the Big 12 Conference Tournament, hanging out with Lubbock's musical legend Buddy Holly and calling games with future NBA players like Spud Webb and Larry Johnson.

Other moments were closer to the heart, like officiating with his son, Lance, and his daughter, Tanya, who followed Dad to games, half carrying and half dragging his bag.

"Man, I felt like I was somebody when I got to bring Dad's bag into the gym," Lance said.

Pollard didn't bring a bag to his first officiating gig that was forced upon him by a coach who needed someone to help referee a preseason practice game. Pollard balked at the idea and didn't want to do it.

Coaches had a lot more freedom back in the day, and when he was told, "If you don't help me when you get to school on Monday, I'm going to bust your tail," Pollard just "naturally" drifted toward the court.

The result was that the Bula High School graduate already had the experience when he joined the Lubbock officiating chapter, and he wasn't forced to face the coach and his paddle.

In his younger years, Pollard (he's 78) also had the good fortune to meet music greats like Buddy Holly (in-studio visits) and Waylon Jennings, who was spinning other people's records as a disc jockey. Things were different then, and starry-eyed teenagers could hang outside the windows of the radio station, and the stars would come out and chat.

Things were also different on the basketball court, and over the years, Pollard has seen the game evolve into the present. He lists Michael Jordon as his argument for the greatest-of-all-time title, with Wilt Chamberlin a close second.

"Both men changed the game with their arrival," Pollard said. "Jordan was such a good all-around player who knew what it took to win, and he elevated those around him. Chamberlin changed the game with his size, and it sent other teams to look for big men. The rules of basketball were changed because of what he could simply do with his height."

While the big men in basketball do get the attention, it was a short player who comes to mind when Pollard goes looking for golden nuggets in his memories.

It was 1982, and Midland Junior College was in the midst of its national title run, and Pollard saw this "short guy" running all over the court. The player eased his way under the basket, and there was a thunderous dunk.

"I wasn't sure what happened," Pollard said. "There were a lot of bodies under the basket, and I thought the post had dunked the ball, but I wasn't sure."

Pollard later went to his fellow official and asked him, "Who dunked that?," and his counterpart didn't know either.

The question answered itself after the game when the Sports Illustrated film and photo crews set up their equipment to record Michael "Spud" Webb as he put on a dunking show.

"We both had an 'ah-hah moment' when we looked at each other and said, "That's who dunked that ball!"

As referees gain experience and show, they can call bigger games and begin to move up from junior high and junior varsity games. Just like athletes, referees also feel the longing to take it to the next level.

Pollard has done just that as he has carefully balanced his business life as an accountant and referee. Events on his resume include the former Southwest Conference women's tournament, the women's National Invitational Tournament (NIT), the Big 12 Conference Championship tournament, and every level of high school basketball in the state.

There have been many significant moments, and some of them hit close to home, like when he and Lance were pulled from the stands to referee a basketball game between two state powers – Granbury High School's Lady Pirates and Mansfield High School.

"Coach Leta (Andrews) explained the varsity officials had not shown up for the game," Pollard said. "They had to have someone, and both of us did have the experience."

It was a bit of trail-by-fire for Lance, who did have experience, but it was at the junior varsity level. This was a big step up.

"I don't think I made a call the whole first quarter," Lance said.

It might have been a hot entrance into varsity basketball but Lance, like his father, enjoyed the heat. It was that game that lighted the passion for doing more games at higher levels.

Both men smiled at each other as they recalled the experience. Lance is well known around the area for his officiating and he also does baseball.

That lack of varsity officials also sparked Pollard's idea to establish a Granbury chapter of officials, with a primary role of refereeing basketball games that the Fort Worth chapter cannot cover. Few officials can make their living from just calling games alone, making it hard to hit subvarsity games (they start earlier) without a bit of help.

The Granbury officials chapter is also all about bringing new talent into the fold and training them.

Current GHS Lady Pirate basketball head coach Alan Thorpe and coaches in other area schools have depended on the Granbury officials.

"Fort Worth can't cover all of us, and the job that Larry has done is just tremendous,” Thorpe said. “All of us greatly value him! He has worked so hard to establish an officiating chapter for all of us. I'm still amazed at how he moves up and down the floor as well as he does, too."

With more than 12,000 games refereed, Pollard is still calling fouls on players with the best of them, and doesn't have any plans to slow down.

It helps to keep a positive attitude, and Pollard that’s something he brings with him to the court every time.

“I often joke that when I step out on the court that 100 percent of the people hate me,” Pollard said with a laugh. “When the game is over, half of them are my friends.”

The Granbury officials chapter is always looking for those who want to try their hand at refereeing games. If you would like to learn more, give Pollard a call at 817-279-3553.

Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066