Gerald Hancock was inducted into the Arizona Football Officials Association Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 7. Gerald was the 2021 inductee into the Hall of Fame as recognition for many years of officiating high school athletics. He was born and raised in the Valley and graduated from Chandler High School. He would spend summers across the state and in this region of northeastern Arizona helping out on his grandfather’s sheep and cattle ranches in Eagar and on McLaws Road in Holbrook. According to his son, Paul Hancock, Gerald began officiating in 1975-76. He started with basketball then added football and baseball. When softball was added as a high school sport in the 80’s that was added to his schedule as well. In 1981, Gerald was appointed the area commissioner for the northeastern part of Arizona, that included Payson, up to Winslow and the Utah border and schools east of there. When he was the area commissioner, there were approximately 70 football officials and well over 100 basketball officials that Gerald would assign to games at each of the area schools. Gerald officiated four state championships in football, three in baseball, three in basketball and four in softball. He also officiated numerous semi and quarterfinal games. Most of the championships that he officiated were in the 3A and 2A levels. In the 1990’s he was awarded the Arizona High School Football Official of the Year, which is only awarded to one official each year. He finished officiating in either 2006 or 2007. Gerald was an advocate for officials in his area and officials from other areas. His leadership developed a strong officiating group. Around 2003, he partnered with the Arizona Interscholastic Association and current State Commissioner of Officials Brian Gessner to start an officiating clinic at the Blue Ridge summer basketball camp. This camp has helped many officials realize their dream of officiating a state championship game, or getting into the arena.
