By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
High school football games where the home team loses 34-6 aren’t often referred to as “historic” or “memorable.”
An Oct. 5 non-conference game at Westville deserves those titles even though visiting Westmont prevailed by 28 points.
Three of the five men officiating the game that night were representing different generations of the same family.
The linesman was Junior Nelson, from Champaign. He will celebrate his 75th birthday on Thanksgiving.
The umpire was Ken Nelson, from Philo. The 50-year-old was on a crew that worked a state championship game in 2012.
The back judge was Brady Nelson, from Philo. He is 21, but is already a veteran of six years as an official.
Brady Nelson’s father is Ken Nelson and his grandfather is Junior Nelson.
“Going in, it’s something we didn’t dwell on,” said crew chief Don Hackler, from Ridge Farm. “Every Friday, you have a job to do and you mentally prepare to do it to the best of your ability.
“Once we were off the field, we made sure they got a picture (together).”
The Nelsons had all worked varsity football games before, but never together on the same field.
‘It was very exciting and special,” said Junior Nelson, who has officiated prep games for 53 years. “It made me cry.
“Walking off the field and congratulating each other, we didn’t shake hands. We gave hugs. It was a great night for all.”
The three Nelsons had teamed up to referee freshmen and junior varsity games, which helped them feel comfortable in the varsity game at Westville.
“We knew everybody’s position,” Junior Nelson said.
“We had a good chemistry before,” Brady Nelson said. “It was really fun. I never thought it would happen.”
Added Ken Nelson: “Any time you work with the same people, you get familiar with where they’ll be and the confidence level is there. We knew how we all work.”
The unique pairing was “kind of a coincidence,” Hackler said.
The first opening was known early in the season. Champaign’s David Dupre needed the night off to get prepared for a Saturday collegiate game he would do the next day.
“We had arranged for Ken’s son Brady to fill in,” Hackler said.
“He has been our main go-to guy when we need someone,” Ken Nelson said.
Another crew member, Brian Parke, from St. Joseph, had a work-related conference out of state, creating a second void.
“We needed a linesman and that was a position my dad use to work,” Ken Nelson said. “I asked Don, and he said, ‘Absolutely.’ “
The elder Nelson didn’t immediately learn the news.
“We had the Unity/Olympia game at Memorial Stadium (on Sept. 22),” Ken Nelson said, “and it was neat to tell him there, where he saw me reach one of my pinnacle goals (working a state championship game in 2012).”
His father’s reaction is etched in Ken Nelson’s mind.
“His exact words were, ‘My dream has finally come true,’ “ Ken Nelson said.
Now in the twilight of his career, most of Junior Nelson’s time at prep games these days is spent evaluating officials.
He officiated a number of lower level games in 2018, but just the one varsity contest.
“If I don’t do another varsity game, I’ll cherish that one as long as I live,” Junior Nelson said. “It means so much.”
Young Brady Nelson felt the same way.
He was part of another crew — headed by Dave Cronk — that was later assigned two rounds of playoff games this year by the IHSA. They were the first two playoff games for Brady Nelson.
The highlight of his season, however, occurred before the postseason began.
“I’d put that game (with his father and grandfather) above that,” Brady Nelson said. “Two (family members) is pretty common, but three is rare.”
Westville athletic director Mike Waters said the commitment of the entire Nelson family is in itself an impressive feat.
“Football officials are hard enough to find,” Waters said. “We’re in an age when officials are at such a premium and we don’t have enough to go around.
“You used to see a father and son every now and then, but the third-generation thing is unheard of. It was an awesome experience.”
No records are available nationally about how often three generations of one family have worked a football game together, but one other documented case occurred in September, 2014, in Ohio.
Jim Mahlmeister, 72, took the field with his sons Mike and Jimmy along with Jimmy’s 20-year-old son, Justin, who was working his first varsity game.
Officials typically have at least a 45-minute conference prior to taking the field.
Hackler and line judge Jim Steinbaugh, from Bismarck, had a thorough pre-game meeting before the Oct. 5 game.
“Junior has been around a long time,” said Hackler, himself a 39-year football official, “so it was basically rehashing, ‘in this situation, you have this.’ “
The Nelsons had an opportunity to discuss the event well before the referees gathered in their dressing room.
“Dad picked us up and we all three rode over together,” Ken Nelson said.
The outcome of the game wasn’t in Westville’s favor, but the quality of the crew showed through, even with the two substitutions.
“They did a great job,” Waters said. “Everything went smoothly. It was an awesome experience.”
Once the postseason arrived, Hackler’s officiating crew was at full strength and worked four rounds of the playoffs, concluding with last week’s semifinal game between Byron and Herscher.
Ken Nelson has had no shortage of highlights since becoming a multi-sport referee — including a super-sectional appearance last year in girls’ basketball — and he added to his lengthy list last month in a regular-season football game.
“Once the game starts, it’s just another game, but it ranks right up there with working the state finals,” said Ken Nelson, who had several chances to glance at his father in action during the game.
Each glimpse was heart-warming.
“He had a big grin on his face the whole entire game,” Ken Nelson said.
