RELEASED:  Thursday, January 31, 2008

Former WIAC Football Official Claims Award

Madison, Wis.--Former Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football official Jim Kemerling was named the recipient of the 2007 Outstanding Football Official Award by the National Football Foundation (NFF).

The Outstanding Football Official Award honors a collegiate official who has shown superior abilities in officiating and has demonstrated sportsmanship, integrity and character in intercollegiate athletics and amateur football.

A pillar of the officiating community, Jim Kemerling has enjoyed a highly successful career on the gridiron for more than 25 years in college football.

A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., and a graduate of Michigan State, Kemerling spent the first six years of his officiating career in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (then known as the Wisconsin State University Conference) before earning a call from the Big Ten Conference in 1979, where he spent the next 20 years.  During his tenure in the officiating ranks, he has earned the universal respect of his peers, coaches and administrators for his command of the game, integrity and devotion to the principles of sportsmanship and fair play.

“I am proud that Jim Kemerling is receiving the NFF Outstanding Official Award,” longtime Big Ten Conference football officiating coordinator and NCAA football officiating director Dave Parry said. “Jim was a highly respected Big Ten referee.  His skills and presence on the field, and his leadership qualities, earned him admiration from coaches, administrators and his fellow officials.”

Kemerling has officiated in many significant bowl assignments and championship games, including the 1986 Gator Bowl, 1988 Rose Bowl, 1990 Rose Bowl, 1991 Blockbuster Bowl, 1994 Sugar Bowl, 1996 Gator Bowl, 1997 Peach Bowl and 1998 Las Vegas Bowl.  In 1999, he earned the Butch Lambert Officials Award.

“I think I got the news about being honored by the National Football Foundation via a letter,” he said. “My first reaction was: why me? With all the great officials out there and ones extremely deserving of the national recognition, I just was very overwhelmed by the recognition.”

Professionally, Kemerling built a reputation as an astute businessman and as a pillar of the Wausau, Wis. community.  He has been the president and CEO of Mosinee Paper Corporation, Shade Information Systems, Shade/Allied, Inc., The Specialty Packaging Group, Inc. and Riser Energy.