Sam Jones is pictured making a call during a high school football game last fall. Jones will be inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame this summer.

CONNORVILLE – High school football officials and baseball umpires make calls during the course of games. However, one local official/umpire received a call recently that was not expected, but very welcomed.

The veteran whistle-toter and balls-and-strikes caller was recently notified that he will be a member of the 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place sometime in July.

“I received a text message the other day informing me of the selection. It’s something that I wasn’t expecting,” Jones said. “When I started out officiating my goal was surely not to make the Hall of Fame, it just kind of happened … it means you’re old, but it is a culmination of all the things you’ve done over the years while working games.”

Jones said his father, Darby, who died when Jones was 8, was an umpire and he strived to be like him, as well as his cousin, Paul Vargo.

“I used to go to games that my dad umpired and I eventually found out that he was the person in charge of the umpires as their scheduling secretary,” Jones said. “My cousin, Paul, really helped me get started. He later went on to officiate men’s basketball in the Big East. I kind of wanted to be like those guys.”

Jones has officiated high school football for 36 years; served as an umpire for 21 and has been an administrator three three.

He began his football officiating career in 1988 and has been working games since 1989. During that span, he has worked 561 games, which includes seven all-star games (OVAC Rudy Mumley 3 times and the W.Va. North-South Game 4 times); 46 West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission playoff contests (12 semifinals; 3 state championships); and 52 OHSAA playoffs, including eight regionals, three semifinals and a pair of state championships).

The Ohio Valley Board of Approved Football Officials awarded Jones the Al “Smooth” Kloss award for years of board service.

He was honored to referee the 2025 OHSAA Division IV state final between Shelby and Cleveland Glenville at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

“When I got that call, I cried,” he admitted. “I just broke down. I got so emotional. When you are closer to the end of your career like I am, you never know what game will be your last. The first OHSAA state championship game I did in 2015 was at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, but I had never been to Canton. We used to drive by that stadium on the way to my relatives, and I would just look at it. I finally got to go there.”

On the baseball diamond, Jones has umpired multiple OHSAA regional games and has had a pair of state championship assignments, including last Spring. He has had the honor of umpiring the OVAC George Kovalick All-Star Baseball Game numerous times and has been selected multiple times by the coach’s association to umpire the East District Coaches Association All Star Baseball Game.

“High school sports has, basically, been my entire life,” Jones added. “Either as a referee, an umpire or an athletic director. There are, however, moments that occur that you’ve never seen before.”

One of those occasions occurred last Spring when he was behind the plate for the OHSAA Division V Regional final at Marietta College between St. Clairsville and Lynchburg-Clay.

“Just when it appeared as though St. Clairsville was going to win and advance to the state tournament, the catcher’s throw to third hits the batters bat in the batters box and caroms away. Two runs score, the game is tied and St. Clairsville eventually loses in extra innings,” he vividly recalled. “I’ve never seen anything like that before and probably won’t for a long, long time.”

A highlight on the 2025 baseball diamond was, not only working the plate during the OHSAA Division VII state final between Minster and Newark Catholic, but being able to do it with friends Mike Cox, Jimmy Little and Donnie Madzia.

When asked if he loves one sport – baseball or football – over the other, he thought for a moment before replying, “I hate to say it, but football is my real love and I think that comes from my playing days at St. John Central for head coach Bob Eaton. I had a really great experience playing for him.

“Some people might say that I am a better baseball umpire than football referee, but some of the baseball coaches might not agree with that,” he joked.

Jones was nominated for the hall of fame by Cox.

“Sam has been a promoter for officiating and a leader in the officiating community for many years. He was the OVBAFO president on five different occasions, as well as serving on the executive committee for 10 years and was their long-time rules interpreter,” Cox wrote. “He is the Ohio Valley Baseball Umpires Association Board Secretary.

“Sam has been very involved in recruiting, training and retaining officials in Eastern Ohio. He participated in organizing and running clinics for both baseball and football,” Cox continued. “He has hosted the East District’s OHSAA Playoff meeting for officials for the past 10 years, and has volunteered to speak and train officials in their high school officiating classes. He enjoys mentoring younger officials.”

Jones is currently the Football Commissioner of the OVAC, assigning officials for 58 schools in the bi-state conference. He also serves as a liaison between the coaches and the 50-plus crews he assigns.

Jones wouldn’t be receiving his honor if not for some people close to him, his family.

“I’d like to thank my wife Kelly, we’ve been married since 1990. She’s been very supportive in whatever I’ve done. She’s been wonderful. Without her support, I would’ve never been able to do the things I’ve done. My daughters weren’t athletes, they were baton twirlers so I got to see every one of their home games, but I’m sure I missed something, though. They were always, and still are, very supportive.

“As far as umpires and officials go, Paul Vargo got me started and Mike Cox and I have been baseball umpire partners for years,” Jones continued. “We’ll go on road trips to Dover, New Philadelphia, wherever and we’re always talking about sports. In football there was the late Don Zinni who used to be the OVAC Football Commissioner.”

Jones, who serves as the referee of his crew, wanted to thank his crew members for their loyalty, hard work and dedication. They are John Timko, Pete Tamborello, Vince Levi, Rennie Cousineau and Madzia.

How much longer does he plan on doing what he loves?

“I’m 59 and at this point last year I had a back injury,” he explained. “I watched the entire Summer Olympics lying on the floor because I couldn’t sleep. I thought my officiating career was over, but I rehabbed and got healthy. I won’t be one of those guys that can walk or bend over, but as long as I am healthy, I will continue to referee and umpire.”

Jones said he acquired the nickname “Chicken” from his basketball coach at St. John Central, Mark Cook.

“We’re still good friends to this day,” Jones said. “I think he gave it to me because of the way I ran.”