Bob Byrd

Basketball

Bob Byrd was the oldest of four children. His father, a 27-year Naval officer, settled the family in San Diego, in 1952. A 1957 graduate of Lincoln High. After one semester at San Diego City College, he went to work at Rohr Aircraft. He married in 1959 , raising two sons, Bob and Jeff. He worked for 47 years as a roofer, the last 27 spent working with Witherow Roofing, the largest roofing company in San Diego County, serving as Roofing supervisor for the final 14 years of his career. Bob retired in 2006, and his last day of work was spent refurbishing Lincoln High School.

Bob started officiating basketball in the 1969-70 season as a 

member of the San Diego County Basketball Officials Association. He was elected to the Board of BIOGRAPHIESDirectors, in his fifth year of officiating and remained a board member for 25 years until he retired in 2000. Bob was an Instructor for 10 years. He also instructed an annual coaches’ clinic for 10 years. He served as President of the Board of Directors, the Rating Chairman for three years, and the Association’s Representative for Junior College Basketball.

Bob refereed high school, boys and girls, basketball for 31 years, Officiating Playoffs, including CIF State Finals. He refereed Military Basketball games for five years, and wheelchair games for three years. He was an official for Junior College, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, for 24 years, officiating many playoff games. He worked NAIA basketball games, both men and women, for 20 years. Bob was a Pac 10 Men’s and Women’s Basketball official; West Coast Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball; Big West Conference Women’s Basketball and the Western Athletic Conference.

At the height of this career, he was chosen to work NCAA Women’s Division 1 Playoffs for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991.

Bob was an evaluator for a number of summer camps for officials working with Larry McKay, Dave Libby, John Keating and Irv Brown.

Bob, and his wife Linda, have lived in Pahrump, Nevada, for the last 15 years and will celebrate their 38th anniversary in November.