Crampton Hanging Up Official's Whistle After 46 Years of Giving Back
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
October 26, 2022
After most high school football games end, the referees typically head for the exits, get to the locker rooms and head home. Rarely do fans, players and coaches notice how they disappear.
Things were a little different Friday night in Ottawa Lake.
After Ottawa Lake Whiteford beat Pioneer (Ohio) North Central 30-0, the fans stayed in their seats, the players stayed in the handshake line and coaches gathered around as retiring referee Tom Crampton received his place in the spotlight. After nearly 50 years as a high school football referee, Crampton had blown his whistle a final time.
“I feel like I’m at that point,” Crampton said. “I wanted to go as long as I could. I’ve been fortunate to get to this stage.”
Crampton turned 76 in September. The Jackson native got his start as an official during the 1977-78 school year after hurting his knee in a flag football game.
“I was just running across the field and heard something pop,” he said. “I realized my playing days were over. I had a friend who was an official. He got me into it.”
For years Crampton was a football referee in the fall, basketball official in the winter and umpire in the spring. He gave up the other sports about a decade ago but never wanted to give up football, the game he learned as a 10-year-old growing up in Jackson under the tutelage of Howdy Woods.
“He brought sports into my life,” Crampton said. “He worked with the juveniles of Jackson County and was an official himself, I believe. All of us kids knew Howdy. He got me started in sports.”
Sports became a lifelong passion for the retired director of pharmacy for Henry Ford Allegiance. When he and his wife Colleen had children, he thought about stepping back from his referee duties, but his family wasn’t having it.
“My wife and children all encouraged me to keep doing sports,” he said. “When the kids were younger, I said, ‘I really need to taper this back,’ and they didn’t want me to. They followed me. My wife was my biggest fan. After I retired from work, I thought maybe it was time, but she would not let me quit.”
For years Crampton was a back judge. He transitioned to umpire a few years ago because he felt he was better equipped for that role than running up and down the field.
Chris Dauterman has been an official for 27 years and was a back judge for years before becoming a crew chief only few years ago. Crampton joined his crew when the group of officials he had been working with for decades disbanded due to retirements.
“It’s hard to imagine being dedicated to a hobby that long,” Dauterman said. “That’s really what it is, a hobby. Nobody who does this is doing it for the money. They are doing it for the love of the kids and game. I give him all the respect in the world for putting up with the things he does for so long.
“His knowledge of the rule book and mechanics of an officiating crew is unbelievable,” Dauterman added. “I’ve worked with a lot of officials over the years. In the three years I’ve worked with Tom, he’s helped me transition from back judge to the crew chief. The knowledge he has is tremendous. It’s nice to have him as a sounding board. As another official, it means the world.”
Crampton lives in Lake Columbia, not far from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. He primarily has done games in the Jackson area, including the Cascades Conference and Southeastern Conference the last few years. Friday he was doing a nonleague game between Whiteford and a school from northwest Ohio.
The game ended prematurely when North Central pulled its players off the field at halftime due to injuries and lack of available players to continue.
Before anyone left, however, Crampton was presented with a golden whistle and received a standing ovation for his years of service. After the handshakes, players from both sides greeted Crampton at midfield.
Crampton said most kids haven’t changed in the last 45-plus years he’s been on the field with them. Except for just a few players, most are respectful of him and the sport.
“When I played in the 60s, sports were an extension of the classroom,” he said. “It was learning things of life and that things don’t always work right. There are failures sometimes, but you go on and you pick yourself up and you respect those around you and the competition.
“I think that has waned a little over the years, but most of the kids haven’t changed. Being a referee has been a great experience. I love being out with the kids. Most of the kids out there are great kids, great people. You just have to give them a chance.”
Crampton said he realized his time as an official was nearing the end about a year ago when he said he couldn’t quite get into the position that he wanted during a game. He hopes new officials sign up for the gig and continue the tradition of helping high school athletics.
“We’ve tried recruiting some new officials,” he said. “They were moving up fast now from lower levels to varsity. We’ve lost so many officials over the last few years. I couldn’t have done this without the support of the MHSAA. I’ve enjoyed being everywhere and meeting all the people.”
Crampton worked two MHSAA Finals games during his officiating career and has memories of great athletes, great coaches, and great games to last a lifetime.
“I’ve been fortunate my whole life,” he said. “I’ll miss it, there’s no doubt about it. This is my 66th year of football. How lucky can a person be?”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Retiring official Tom Crampton, middle, shares a laugh with referee colleague Chris Dauterman and Whiteford varsity football coach Todd Thieken before Crampton’s final game Friday. (Middle) Crampton and Dauterman bring Whiteford and Pioneer North Central players together at midfield prior to Friday’s game. (Photos by Doug Donnelly.)
Bronson Football Raising Bar with Growth in Numbers, Growing String of Successes
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
October 6, 2026
BRONSON – Tony Myers remembers the excitement he felt 17 years ago when, as a player, his Bronson football team won a Division 6 District championship.
Years later, Myers, now in his third year as the Vikings' head coach, has fans in this small community located in Branch County buzzing with enthusiasm as Bronson seeks a third-straight playoff berth and upper-tier finish in the Big 8 Conference.
Bronson, 4-2, has big games left on its schedule over the final three weeks of the regular season against league foes Quincy, Reading and East Jackson.
But its lone blemishes came to Division 8 ninth-ranked Springport 35-14 in the season opener and a 22-14 loss a couple weeks later to Union City. The Vikings own an impressive 14-0 win over Division 5 Buchanan in a nonleague battle.
Bronson hasn't won a District since Myers' playing days. The Vikings lost 20-12 to Hanover Horton in a Division 7 District Final last season and fell in a District Semifinal to Schoolcraft 28-14 in 2024.
For several years the program struggled before finally seeing an increase in numbers and players putting in the work during the offseason to make significant changes.
"Our coaching staff has instilled that belief that Bronson can be successful in football. I always talk to the kids about integrity, discipline, honor and those things that aren't mentioned too much outside of football. Men of integrity expect to be believed, and if they aren't then they prove people wrong over time," said Myers, whose wife Kate is a 2012 Bronson graduate; together they have a 7-year-old son Korbin and 5-year-old daughter Charlie June Myers.
He and his coaching staff brought a system and have been successful implementing it across the program. There are solid numbers at the junior varsity and middle school levels.
"It's really exciting to see the growth of this program. We have a new weight room and growth in numbers. Everything has just been really positive, and the community has been very supportive,” said Myers, who is serving as a substitute teacher in Bronson's school district while pursuing an education degree. “There is a huge crowd that follows us, which is great with the situation we're facing this season with no home games."
Due to stadium and field renovations, Bronson has been playing its home games this season at Sturgis, Coldwater and Union City high schools. Thanks to a successful millage vote, renovations to Bronson's stadium are now underway. A new track is being installed, and the field will be re-sodded, along with the addition of new lighting, new goal posts and future plans for upgrades of the press box and seating.
Bronson's defensive unit has forced 14 turnovers in six games. Going into last week's against Maple Valley, the Vikings' hadn't given up a single point during a second half.
Offensively, the Vikings have rolled up 2,428 yards of total offense, with 1,565 rushing yards and 863 passing. Bronson is averaging 30.8 points per game.
"We have a goal for our offense to achieve 5,000 total yards by the end of the season. We've been pretty balanced both passing and running the football," Myers said.
Bronson's backfield is led by the senior duo of Reid Stukey and Ben Stevens.
Stukey, a 5-foot-9, 165-pounder, leads his team in rushing with 97 carries for 809 yards and four touchdowns.
"Our mantra is exactly with Coach Myers preaches in practice, hard work and discipline. These guys all show up every day and ready to work. That's what makes you successful,” Stukey said. “The culture we've built calms my nerves. I'm not nervous about any roles I perform on the field. We want to win titles and play for one another.”
Stevens is the team's second-leading ground gainer with 55 carries for 562 yards and eight TDs. He's also caught 12 passes for 183 yards and two TDs.
"Ben is electric and knows how to read blocks. He's patient and waits until that pulling guard comes around, and after he leads into that linebacker he shoots out of the gap and is off to the races," Myers said.
Stevens, a slot back and tailback, also plays cornerback and safety.
"My leadership and explosiveness, I feel, are two of my biggest strengths. I try to get everyone pumped up after we make a big play and celebrate," Stevens said.
Starting quarterback Owen Losinski separated his shoulder two weeks ago, forcing Myers to move Stukey behind center. Stukey is 9-of-16 passing for 126 yards and two TDs since taking over as signal caller. Losinski is expected back on the field later this week.
"Reid has done a nice job stepping in at quarterback. He provides great leadership and picked things right up and has been able to run our offense effectively," Myers said.
Bronson's most imposing figure on the field is junior offensive tackle and defensive end Kyle Hyska (6-2, 290).
"We have a great deal of size up front with good chemistry within the entire team. Our guys are playing well as a unit and getting better each week,” Hyska said. “We just have to have trust that the guy next to us is doing his job at a high level. I like that with my positions that I get to run through people with controlled aggression.”
Hyska has received a Division I scholarship offer from Harvard.
"Kyle couldn't even squat 185 pounds as a freshman, but he's since grown into his body and increased his strength. He has dreams of playing at the college level and has the right body size, work ethic and mindset to do so," Myers said.
Leading Bronson defensively is senior middle linebacker Caleb Harvey (6-1, 185) with 45 tackles, including nine for loss of yardage and two QB sacks.
"Caleb is one of our toughest kids. He doesn't brag on himself, but he's an absolute animal at linebacker,” Myers said. “He is a great leader, makes quick reads and is always in the backfield making lots of tackles and just gets everyone focused.”
Harvey takes a lot of pride in the Vikings' defense.
"Most of the guys on the team have been playing together since our days in rocket football. At my position I really get to see the field and make big plays. I enjoy leading our defense. We just all need to be in unison to reach our goals," Harvey said.
Thirteen members of Bronson's team went to a summer football camp at Trine University.
"These kids are hungry, but they understand that nothing is given to you in life. We've really tried to ingrain to this group that if there's something you want, that you have to work hard and go after it,” Myers said. “People are going to have their opinions and be critical of you. No one builds statues of critics, so we tell the kids not to let the naysayers hold them down. I'm so thankful our senior group bought into what we're doing at such a young age because now all our underclassmen are seeing they can be successful as well.”
Ultimately, the Vikings want to add some hardware to the school trophy case once the postseason rolls around.
"These kids have talked about getting some trophies to put in their memory bank," Myers said.
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Bronson senior tailback Ben Stevens (2) works to break a tackle against Buchanan on Sept. 25. (Middle) Bronson players (from left) Kyle Hyska, Reid Stukey, Caleb Harvey and Ben Stevens pose for a photo with head coach Tony Myers after a practice. (Below) Reid Stukey (20) tackles a Buchanan receiver following a reception. (Photos by Scott Hassinger.)