As IAABO celebrates its 100th Anniversary, we researched the archives and present the second retrospective.
A war ends, the birth of baby boomers and another war begins: The 40’s, 50’s and 60”s
1941-42
There are now 3,692 members of NAABO. Negotiations started for printing of Official’s Handbook. $300 approved for permanent plaque or award to be installed in the Naismith Memorial, Springfield, MA.
1942-43
The second Canadian NAABO Board was formed in Saskatchewan. A $300 and $500 war bond were purchased. There are now 85 boards with 3,506 members.
1943-45
Due to the war, there were no NAABO annual meetings and the officers were held over.
1945-46
NAABO annual meetings were resumed at the Sloan House in New York City with 47 in attendance. This meeting was held on March 30, 1946 and the officers were President, James E. Coogan of CT, VP, Orrell Mitchell of Washington, DC, 2nd VP, B.E. Emery of PA, and Executive Secretary, Dr. John Brown, Jr. of NY.
1946-47
The Executive Secretary was authorized to present a $300 War Bond to Springfield College for the Naismith Memorial in the new field house. A $250 Honorarium was presented to Oswald Tower, Editor of the Rules for preparing the written True or False test. The passing grade was to be 35 correct answers out of 40 questions. The delegates at the annual meeting voted to make all Past Presidents Honorary Life Members of NAABO.
1947-48
The Manual of Officiating is included in the NAABO Handbook.
1949-50
David Walsh is elected Executive Secretary of NAABO to succeed Dr. John Brown, who retired. Lt. Col. William Pelton was named Chairman of the Uniform Committee to research the possibility of a NAABO uniform.
1951-52
Stewart Paxton becomes Director of Public Relations for NAABO.
1952-53
NAABO adopts an official shirt, gray body with navy collar and cuffs. Later a knit shirt with a gray body, navy collar, cuffs and a waistband were adopted. In the early stages, officials wore a black and white striped shirt with white knickers and black socks and shoes.
1954-55
With John Fitzgerald of NH as President, the National Association of Approved Basketball Officials changes its name to the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. The change was made because of the number of foreign boards and the number of members who were in the American Armed Forces serving throughout the world.
1958-59
Stewart Paxton becomes a full-time employee as he is elected Executive Secretary of IAABO. J. Dallas Shirley becomes Public Relations Director.
1959-60
Oswald Tower retires as Editor of the Rules and Official Interpreter after serving for thirty-five years. John Bunn is named to succeed Oswald Tower.
1961-62
On September 25, 1961, President Charles Koharian, Tony Pianowski, Stewart Paxton and Roger Sheridan represent IAABO in a meeting in Chicago with Cliff Fagan, Executive Secretary of the National High School Federation to generate cooperation between IAABO and the Federation to eliminate any possible friction and to acquaint Mr. Fagan with some of the current issues relating to High School Associations. President Koharian reported that the meeting was successful. Frank McGuire, Past President of IAABO passed away. Springfield College dedicated the Basketball Hall of Fame.
1963-64
Kitch McPhearson of South Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is the first Canadian to be elected to the IAABO Executive Committee. John Brown changes meetings to Sundays.
1965
United States Marines land on the beaches of South Viet Nam as the first American combat troops to enter the war.
1966
Roger Sheridan of VT, Charles Koharian of ME, Richard Roberts, MA, John Clark of NH, and Donald Lomme of CT met in Boston in March to organized the New England Hospitality Room. On April 15, the first Hospitality Room was opened at the Windsor Room of the Hotel Piccadilly in New York. The feature was a barrel of lobsters from the state of Maine.
1966-67
Of the 18,000 responses to the Rules Committee questionnaire, 15,000 people expressed satisfaction with the rules and recommended no changes. John Bunn retires as NCAA Rules Editor. The Fall meeting of IAABO was held on September 14-16 in the city of the IAABO headquarters, Hagerstown, MD. This was the first IAABO meeting held outside of New York City. IAABO member, Ed Steitz, succeeds John Bunn as NCAA Rules Editor.
1968
On October 2, the structure and accomplishments were entered into the Congressional Record by the Honorable Charles Mathias, Representative from Maryland.
1969
President Donald Lomme and Executive Director, Stewart Paxton of IAABO attended a two-day meeting of a FIBA Panel at the Olympic House, New York City. The result of the hearing was the formation of the United States International FIBA Board with Ben Carnivale the New York University Athletic Director as Associate General and M.K. Summers as Honorary Secretary. Diane Hayden of New Brunswick, Canada is the first woman member of IAABO.
