Shaun Williams has come a long way from putting on a referee’s uniform to earn a few extra dollars. Not only did he turn officiating into a career over the last two decades, but he’s established himself as one of the best and most respected in the area.
For 18 years Williams has served as both a football referee and a baseball umpire in the 3rd Region, and he’s officiated basketball games for 17 years.
He recently was named the 2019 KHSAA Official of the Year award for football — eight years after earning the same honor for baseball. Williams worked his way up through the football ranks, starting as a line judge before eventually running his own crew and capping his career off last season by officiating the 5A state championship game.
“I’ve been doing this for 18 years and it was kind of good to get a little recognition for everything I’ve done and the time I’ve put in,” Williams said.
While he’s grateful for the award, Williams said the honor is about more than his own accomplishments.
“The big thing for me is we’ve had a lot of people that have called football at a high level,” he said of the local officials. “It’s kind of like a little recognition for the area. Even though I got the trophy, it’s a group award. Our association works really hard to put a good product out there, and we’ve come a long way. I’m just happy to be the guy to get the award this year.”
It couldn’t have come at a better time for Williams, who is likely hanging up the stripes for good on Friday nights. With a son entering his freshman year, Williams is looking forward to being a fan.
“I’m ready for something different — I’m ready to sit back and watch,” he said. “I’m not going to yell at officials or anything, but I can’t wait to just get in the stands and watch it from a different angle. I’m just going to sit up there and enjoy it.”
Williams said he’s also excited to be able to watch games in the area because of all the relationships he’s built. He played football at Kentucky Wesleyan College from 1995-99, he’s worked at Headquarter’s Barber Shop in Owensboro for the last six years, and he officiates youth sports and summer league games.
“I’ve got a ton of friends here,” he said. “If you look around the coaching landscape here in Daviess County and the 3rd Region, I played with a lot of these coaches at KWC. That’s cool to be around … I go call youth football games and I see the kids, and they say ‘Hey you’re the barber at the barber shop.’ It’s kind of cool.”
Williams is in the final stretch of the current basketball season, and he’ll have a quick turnaround as he prepares for another year of baseball.
Though he’s ready to put his football days behind him, Williams said there’s no end in sight for baseball or basketball.
“Oh no,” he said. “I’m going to be out there with a walker calling baseball and maybe in a wheelchair calling basketball. Those are definitely my two favorite.”
