2022 Officials Awards Again Honors Hundreds Who Make Our Games Possible
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
July 15, 2022
The MHSAA annually honors high school game officials with 20, 30, 40, 45 and 50 years of service as part of its Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet.
This year's virtual banquet honored our Vern L. Norris and Randy Paulson Award winners and 395 officials who celebrated a milestone school year.
This year's honorees included two officials with 60 years of service, and eight celebrating 55 years. Eighteen officials with 50 years of service were honored, along with 44 officials with 45 years. A 40-year award has been presented to 54 officials. In addition, 98 officials with 30 years and 171 officials with 20 years of experience were honored.
What's My Why: Official Sam Davis
July 15, 2026
Sam Davis, Lansing
Davis serves as the MHSAA Director of Officials and has been on staff since 2017, and previously taught and worked as a school administrator for 32 years and in law enforcement for more than a decade. He also recently completed his 46th year as an MHSAA-registered official and has long been considered one of the state's best on the mat. He received the MHSAA's Vern L. Norris Leadership in Officiating Award in 2015.
When I leave the office, the opportunity to go out and be on the mat …
To watch the competition.
To feel the cheers and the excitement from the crowd.
To work with my colleagues.
To impart rules and regulations.
To make sure kids are safe.
To get paid.
What a great opportunity. I enjoy – no, I love – officiating.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.
What's My Why
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch