KFFOA Celebrates 2022 Season; Honors Retiring Commissioner

Klamath Falls, Oregon (November 4, 2022) – The Klamath Falls Football Officials Association (KFFOA) held its end of season banquet on November 3, celebrating the end of the local football season and honoring several of its officials.

KFFOA, in partnership with Oregon School Activities Association and Oregon Athletic Officials Association, recognizes its officials for their service in blocks of five years, and honored Keanu McCune and Dennis Galer for five years of service. Additionally, two special achievement awards were presented to Mike Keppel and Dave Vanhorn in recognition of their retirement after 27 and 50 years of officiating service, respectively.

The banquet also marked the last official event for KFFOA’s retiring Commissioner, Eddie Lewis. Lewis has officiated football in the Klamath Basin for 37 years and became KFFOA’s Commissioner in 2001. Commissioners in local officiating associations function as the primary liaison between associations and the schools they serve, and are responsible for assigning officials to contests. They rarely work contests, other than when no other officials are available. Lewis’ tenure as Commissioner was marked by a national trend of increasing average age of officials nationwide, increasing sportsmanship issues at youth sports contest, and a global pandemic that created a critical shortage of sports officials across the country.

“First and foremost, we are grateful for Eddie’s many years of service to KFFOA and the many youth and schools that he served through his countless hours of dedicated service, he truly leaves a lasting legacy on high school sports throughout the Klamath Basin. His level approach and steady leadership through some historically difficult periods for the avocation of sports officiating is invaluable,” said Myles Maxey, KFFOA President and Commissioner-Elect.

Lewis and his wife, Rosetta have lived in Klamath Falls for over 40 years. Lewis began officiating in the mid-1980s, and has also coached multiple youth teams in basketball, swimming, and track & field. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant in 2006. “I want to thank Rosetta and my girls for always supporting me as an official. There were several times I worked games on our anniversary because an official had to leave town at the last minute,” said Lewis in his remarks during the banquet. “You guys don’t ever forget that you can’t do this without your family’s support,” he reminded other officials in attendance.

Lewis plans to travel between southern California and Hawaii to spend time with family, and has not ruled out signing up again as an official with KFFOA in the 2023 season.