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Hall of Fame

Montana Officials Association Hall of Fame

The Regional Directors of the Montana Officials Association established the MOA Hall of Fame in 1984 with the purpose of recognizing those individuals whom have shown distinguished and dedicated service. 

 

Continue down the bottom of the page for the MOA Hall of Fame Nomination Form and Information

2023 Hall of Fame Inductee - Jim Foran

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2023 Hall of Fame Inductee - Sue Harkin

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2023 Hall of Fame Inductee - Bryan Larson

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2023 Hall of Fame Inductee - Bob "Rollo" Rowling

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Pat Sherman 

Inducted 2021

 

Pat Sherman’s MOA career spanned fifty years, forty-nine of those officiating football and thirty-one years officiating basketball. Pat was selected to officiate over one hundred post-season basketball tournaments (both boys’ and girls’), including at least seventeen state tournament assignments.  Pat worked over sixty-five playoff football games, including seven state championship games. 

Pat was a pool leader, assignor, and a member of the evaluation committee for pools that spanned from Great Falls to Billings. Pat also shared his knowledge, expertise, and passion for the game of football as a presenter for state-wide football officials. Pat was a mentor to countless young officials in the Great Falls and Billings areas and was someone who exemplified a strong work ethic and exhibited professionalism on and off the field. 
 

MOA Hall of Fame Information and Instructions

Montana Officials Association

**Please allow additional time for all MOA Hall of Fame Officials to be selected and contacted**

 

HALL OF FAME

The Regional Directors of the Montana Officials Association established the MOA Hall of Fame in 1984 with the purpose of recognizing those individuals who have shown distinguished and dedicated service. 

 

Section (1)    NAME

This feature of the Montana Officials Association shall be titled the Montana Officials Association Hall of Fame.

 

Section (2)    GOVERNANCE

The governance of the Montana Officials’ Association Hall of Fame shall be embodied in the Montana Officials Association Regional Directors.

 

Section (3)    SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

A.       The MOA Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall have twelve (12) anonymous members as follows:

           1.  One (1) member from Montana High School Association Executive Staff.

           2.  One (1) member representing each of the Eleven (11) regions in the Montana Officials Association

          

B.       Names of the Selection Committee individuals will be anonymous to the public.

 

C.       Members of the Selection Committee shall be appointed by the Montana Officials Association Commissioner with approval from the Montana High School Association Executive Director.

D.       Vacancies on the Selection Committee shall be filled by the Montana Officials Association Commissioner with approval from the Montana High School Association Executive Director.

E.       All appointed members shall serve a four (4) year term.  Members can be reappointed.

 

F.        Committee membership shall begin July 1st.

 

Section (4)    DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

 

The duties and responsibilities of the Montana Officials’ Association office staff shall be:

A.       To receive nominations of persons who shall be considered for election to the Officials’ Hall of Fame.

B.       To keep a current, accurate and complete accounting of the candidates for the Officials’ Hall of Fame.

C.       Prepare and send out all correspondence as required.

D.       Tally committee ballots.

E.       Prepare press releases of inductees.

F.        Validate candidate information upon request for the selection committee.

 

Section (5)    NOMINATIONS

 

A.       Nominations for the MOA Hall of Fame may be made by:

           1.  Representatives of Montana Officials’ Association

           2.  Members of the MOA Hall of Fame Committee.

           3.  The general public.

B.       Nomination for the MOA Hall of Fame requirements and limitations:

           1.  Cover Letter

           2.  MOA Hall of Fame Nomination form – The form must be signed by the candidates Regional Director to be considered.

           3.  Photocopies (8 ½” x 11") of not more than six (6) of the following: newspaper clippings, magazine articles, event programs, or other such materials that detail information about the nominee’s accomplishments (DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS).  Please do not use notebooks with plastic sheet protectors or highlighters to point out specific facts; either underline or draw arrows to mark copy.

           4.  Letters - a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) letters of recommendation explaining why you think this individual is worthy of this honor. Please limit each letter to ONE typewritten page.  Letters of recommendation for other awards or honors should not be used as a substitute for this requirement.

C.       The selection of candidates will occur every year.  Nomination forms are routed through the Regional Director and are due in the MOA office by April 1st of each year.  Nominees remain in consideration for a period of five years.  Any nomination received after the candidates’ materials have been sent to the Selection Committee will be held until the next election.  The time line is as follows:

 

           April 1st:  Nominations are due at the MOA office. Selection has been updated to every year. 

         

April 1st:  Nominations are due at the MOA office.

April 20th:      Nominations are forwarded to the Selection Committee.

May 15th:       Selection Committee ballots are due to the MOA office.

                                  June 1 -June10th:          Inductees are notified.

                                  June 15th - July 1st:      Winners are announced to the media.

              

D.       The two categories of the Montana Officials’ Association Hall of Fame are:

 

  1. Modern era - a person who has experienced outstanding achievement as an official while registered in the Montana Official Association.  A modern competitor is eligible for nomination a minimum of one year after his/her retirement.
  2. Old timer - a person who has experienced outstanding achievement as an official while registered in the MOA.  An old timer has over twenty five (25) years of service with the MOA.  At least one old timer will be inducted annually if the criteria are met.

 

               The criteria for selection in both of these categories include:

  1. LONGEVITY - Consideration is given for length of service as a member of the MOA and officiating service.
  2. MULTIPLE SPORTS - Consideration is also given to those officials who have officiated multiple sports throughout their career.
  3. PLAYOFF/TOURNAMENT/OFFICIATING - Consideration is given for the different levels of competition officiated, for example district, divisional, and state tournaments, along with football and soccer playoffs. This will include the number of tournaments officiated, with more consideration afforded for working at the higher levels of post season events. 
  4. HONORS - Consider Distinguished Service Awards, NFOA Awards, or any recognition the official has received as a result of his/her being involved in MOA.
  5. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE -           This could include serving in a leadership role of his/her local association/pool, a trainer of young officials, MOA Regional Director etc.

 

E.       The Selection Committee shall consider all candidates sent to the individual committee members.  Each committee member shall vote for a maximum of ten (10) candidates each year.  At least one inductee must be from the “old timer” category if the criteria are met.

 

F.        The Selection Committee will receive an updated packet of information for each candidate for each election.  Files of inducted candidates can be discarded.  Files of unsuccessful candidates will be retained by the MOA office to which new files will be added and distributed for each election.  A candidate who has not been elected within five (5) ballots will be dropped from the list of eligible candidates and shall not have his/her name reconsidered again unless re-nominated.