Al Jury

Al Jury is a former American football official in the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 2004. He started as a back judge, then switched to field judge after the league swapped position names in 1998. Over the course of his NFL career, Jury was selected to officiate in a record-tying five Super Bowls: XX in 1986, XXII in 1988, XXIV in 1990, XXVIII in 1994 and XXXIV in 2000. On the field, Jury wore uniform number 106 for the majority of his career and is most recognizable for the prescription goggles he wore. Outside of the NFL, Jury was also a California Highway Patrol officer for 28 years starting in 1969 and referred High School games.

At the age of 18, Jury started officiating high school games after graduating from Pacific High School, in San Bernardino, California, where he was a four-sport athlete, in 1959.

While officiating, Jury was also a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for seven years after which he joined the California Highway Patrol in 1969.

Jury moved up to junior college and then college football, joining the Pac-8 Conference in 1972 before being hired by the NFL in 1978, at the age of 35.

On December 6, 1989 during a high school basketball game between Victor Valley High School and Damien High School in Moreno Valley, Jury was the center of controversy. Victor Valley head coach, Ollie Butler had argued with Al Jury the week previous during a game and the tension continued. During the game, Jury personally berated the Victor Valley players and with seconds remaining, called a controversial foul on a Victor Valley inbound pass. This gave Damien High School the win on free throws. After the game, an argument ensued between three Victor Valley players and referees, Jury and Al Smith, that grew into a shoving match and then a brawl. Witnesses stated that Jury and Smith stayed on the court after the game and according to Coach Butler, Jury berated and then shoved one of the Victor Valley players. Damien head coach, Mike Seaman agreed with Butler, stated the fault lies with the referees as they would not leave the court after the game. After six months of intense deliberations by the CIF Southern Section, the Victor Valley Union High School District, and the San Andreas League, which included both Jury and Butler being suspended and reinstated, Coach Butler resigned and Jury and Smith was no longer allowed to officiate games involving Victor Valley High School.[1][2]

Jury was forced to retire in 2004 after breaking his leg during a game.[3][4] He now serves as an Assistant Supervisor for the NFL.

Jury was the 2013 recipient of the Art McNally Award for recognition of his accomplished career in the NFL.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/1990-08-11/sports/sp-252_1_victor-valley-school
  2. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-19/sports/sp-210_1_victor-valley-player
  3. ↑ Romana, Pax (2004-02-08). "Pittsburgh Area NFL Refs". Talk About Network. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  4. ↑ "Al Jury - NFL". Football Official's Camp, LLC. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  5. ↑ Austro, Ben (January 26, 2014). "Al Jury presented with Art McNally Award". Football Zebras. Retrieved January 26, 2014.


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