Thanks for the Memories

[Yuccaguy]

To those of you that know me on a personal basis...  The time has come to hang up the stripes.  

Been a great 25 years, and a lot of fantastic ball-games, friendships, competition and discussion.  

I'll ask to be with the IHSAA in a different capacity as the years go by, but at this point;  The time has come to allow 'younger' officials to shine.  Yeah I'm only 60... But for me I had never planned in any sport to be a 70 year old guy stumbling like Wille Mays out of the batter's box in his later days.  

Again, thanks to everyone.  

[Bobref]

Congratulations on a great career, James. Don’t be a stranger. 😉

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, Yuccaguy said:

To those of you that know me on a personal basis...  The time has come to hang up the stripes.  

Been a great 25 years, and a lot of fantastic ball-games, friendships, competition and discussion.  

I'll ask to be with the IHSAA in a different capacity as the years go by, but at this point;  The time has come to allow 'younger' officials to shine.  Yeah I'm only 60... But for me I had never planned in any sport to be a 70 year old guy stumbling like Wille Mays out of the batter's box in his later days.  

Again, thanks to everyone.  

Congrats, JC!

[Yuccaguy]

1 hour ago, Bobref said:

Congratulations on a great career, James. Don’t be a stranger. 😉

That next step for being an "Evaluator" sounds kinds nice...   

[Bobref]

4 hours ago, Yuccaguy said:

That next step for being an "Evaluator" sounds kinds nice...   

we”d love to have you.

[BDGiant93]

Thanks for your service to the game and knowing when to step away. In any profession, sometimes we stick too long. Congratulations on 25 years!

[Sparty]

10 hours ago, Bobref said:

we”d love to have you.

Ran out of likes already today.  LOVE this!

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, BDGiant93 said:

Thanks for your service to the game and knowing when to step away. In any profession, sometimes we stick too long. Congratulations on 25 years!

He is one of the greats as is @Bobref  LOVE that they want to pour into HS athletes through officiating, even after their on field retirements.

 

[Bash Riprock]

20 hours ago, Yuccaguy said:

To those of you that know me on a personal basis...  The time has come to hang up the stripes.  

Been a great 25 years, and a lot of fantastic ball-games, friendships, competition and discussion.  

I'll ask to be with the IHSAA in a different capacity as the years go by, but at this point;  The time has come to allow 'younger' officials to shine.  Yeah I'm only 60... But for me I had never planned in any sport to be a 70 year old guy stumbling like Wille Mays out of the batter's box in his later days.  

Again, thanks to everyone.  

Thanks for making an incredible difference over the past 25 years YG!!  Good to know you will be opening up a new chapter to serve our youth!!

[Sparty]

9 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Thanks for making an incredible difference over the past 25 years YG!!  Good to know you will be opening up a new chapter to serve our youth!!

LOVE

[Robert]

Oh, no!  🙂.  

[Miner_Pride]

I know I'm late but congratulation and thank you for your dedication for all these years.  I hate to see veteran officials leave the field as it just seems

harder and harder to replace guys like you.  Best of luck in your future!! 

[Irishman]

Held off for a while to gather my thoughts here. I cannot say enough how great this crew was to work with. I really enjoyed seeing you guys at our freshmen and/or JV games. Each man on that crew would take time to teach kids what they were looking for on a given play, and explain to them why a flag was thrown. While there is never a game where you get every call you think you should, when this crew had the game, you knew it was going to be fair. You knew you could communicate with them to clarify things. Great crew, but better men. And all of that about the crew is a direct reflection of the man leading them. Enjoy your extra time, you have earned it. 

[Coach Nowlin]

We have been fortunate to see Yucca and crew a few times even all the way to Rensselaer !!!   Cheers sir 

[Sparty]

On 4/20/2026 at 9:12 AM, Miner_Pride said:

I know I'm late but congratulation and thank you for your dedication for all these years.  I hate to see veteran officials leave the field as it just seems

harder and harder to replace guys like you.  Best of luck in your future!! 

I have a feeling my friend @Yuccaguymay not be “working” on the field officiating, but will be pouring his knowledge and friendship into the younger officials very soon.  And it will be very welcomed.  

[Sparty]

On 4/20/2026 at 9:31 AM, Irishman said:

Held off for a while to gather my thoughts here. I cannot say enough how great this crew was to work with. I really enjoyed seeing you guys at our freshmen and/or JV games. Each man on that crew would take time to teach kids what they were looking for on a given play, and explain to them why a flag was thrown. While there is never a game where you get every call you think you should, when this crew had the game, you knew it was going to be fair. You knew you could communicate with them to clarify things. Great crew, but better men. And all of that about the crew is a direct reflection of the man leading them. Enjoy your extra time, you have earned it. 

What a great post.  I know he has a “younger” wing that does a great job. I have NO idea if he wants to be a WH, but @yuccaguy and I chatted after their SF game, and man does he “fit the part”.  If I wasn’t on the other part of the state, I’d have worked as many games as possible with these gents. 
 

@Yuccaguyand I have never met in person, but he has always answered my messages and helped me a ton.