Jack Vest
Encyclopedia
Jack Vest was an American athlete. He was a 12 letter man for East Tennessee State, winning honors in football, basketball and baseball between the years 1946-50. He is also to be found numerous times in the Buccaneer record book. He was an outstanding quarterback in football and averaged between 15-20 points per season in basketball. A gifted passer, Vest held the Buccaneer record for most passes completed in a single game for years. He was a member of the All-Decade 1940's team as a quarterback and figured prominently in some of the better teams fielded by Coach L.T. Roberts. Vest is a member of the East Tennessee State Athletic Hall of Fame.
After leaving East Tennessee State, Vest coached high school football and turned out a 9-0-1 record with a St. Paul, Virginia
team which had only 17 players on the entire squad. He coached at Greeneville from 1951-53.
While he was an accomplished athlete in college, Vest will more likely be remembered as one of the nation's most outstanding officials in both football and basketball. After coaching football at Hanes High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
, he became an executive in the insurance department of Wachovia Bank and devoted much time to officiating. Vest was one of the best in the Southern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference and worked in the Gator Bowl
as a football official in 1964. For six years in a row he was an official in the NAIA
national championships in Kansas City
.
In 1965, he became an official in the fledgling American Football League
. He was the referee for Super Bowl II
between the Green Bay Packers
and the Oakland Raiders
after the 1967 Professional Football
season.
He wore uniform number 3 as a referee in the NFL during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. During a Monday Night Football
game between the New York Giants
and Philadelphia Eagles
in November 1970, Vest wore bright blue gloves which were easily visible to the television audience. The NFL soon passed a rule all officials' gloves had to be black. That game is more memorable, however, for the antics in the broadcast booth, where Howard Cosell
threw up on Don Meredith
's boots and had to leave Franklin Field
at halftime.
Vest worked the 1970 AFC divisional playoff game between the Miami Dolphins
and Oakland Raiders
, and the 1971 AFC Championship game between the Dolphins and Baltimore Colts
.
His crew for the 1971 season included umpire Frank Sinkovitz
, head linesman Leo Miles, line judge Bruce Alford, back judge Bill Kestenmeier, and field judge Tony Skover. Kestenmeier replaced Bob Frederic from Vest's 1970 crew when Frederic was promoted to referee for 1971.
In June 1972 he was killed in a motorcycle accident at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
. Chuck Heberling was promoted from line judge to replace Vest as referee, and the remainder of Vest's crew worked with Heberling during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
After leaving East Tennessee State, Vest coached high school football and turned out a 9-0-1 record with a St. Paul, Virginia
St. Paul, Virginia
St. Paul is a town in Russell and Wise counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 1,000 people at the 2000 census.-Geography:St...
team which had only 17 players on the entire squad. He coached at Greeneville from 1951-53.
While he was an accomplished athlete in college, Vest will more likely be remembered as one of the nation's most outstanding officials in both football and basketball. After coaching football at Hanes High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, he became an executive in the insurance department of Wachovia Bank and devoted much time to officiating. Vest was one of the best in the Southern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference and worked in the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
as a football official in 1964. For six years in a row he was an official in the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
national championships in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
In 1965, he became an official in the fledgling American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. He was the referee for Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
between the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after the 1967 Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
season.
He wore uniform number 3 as a referee in the NFL during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. During a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game between the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in November 1970, Vest wore bright blue gloves which were easily visible to the television audience. The NFL soon passed a rule all officials' gloves had to be black. That game is more memorable, however, for the antics in the broadcast booth, where Howard Cosell
Howard Cosell
Howard William Cosell was an American sports journalist who was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. Cosell said of himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these...
threw up on Don Meredith
Don Meredith
Joseph Don "Dandy Don" Meredith was an American football quarterback, sports commentator and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years as a player...
's boots and had to leave Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
at halftime.
Vest worked the 1970 AFC divisional playoff game between the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the 1971 AFC Championship game between the Dolphins and Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
His crew for the 1971 season included umpire Frank Sinkovitz
Frank Sinkovitz
Frank Bernard Sinkovitz was an American football center and linebacker who played six seasons in the National Football League. He then worked as an umpire for 26 seasons, wearing uniform number 20, which was later worn by Larry Nemmers. He officiated Super Bowl XV. He was born in Steelton,...
, head linesman Leo Miles, line judge Bruce Alford, back judge Bill Kestenmeier, and field judge Tony Skover. Kestenmeier replaced Bob Frederic from Vest's 1970 crew when Frederic was promoted to referee for 1971.
In June 1972 he was killed in a motorcycle accident at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
. Chuck Heberling was promoted from line judge to replace Vest as referee, and the remainder of Vest's crew worked with Heberling during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
See also
- American Football LeagueAmerican Football LeagueThe American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
- American Football League Officials
- List of American Football League players, coaches and contributors