Ed Hightower facts for kids
Edward E. "Ed" Hightower is an American educator and a famous former referee for college basketball games. He is known for his long career in both education and sports.
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A Top Basketball Referee
Ed Hightower had an amazing career as a basketball referee. He was a referee for 12 NCAA Division 1 Final Four tournaments. That's a really big deal in college basketball!
He also refereed important international games, like:
- The 1990 World Championship of Basketball in South America
- The European Basketball Championship in 1993
- The Goodwill Games in 1994 and 1998
Hightower was often a referee for games in the Big Ten and Big East conferences. These are two of the biggest college sports conferences in the United States.
Awards and Retirement
Ed Hightower received many awards for his refereeing skills:
- In 1992, he was named the Naismith Division I Men’s College Basketball Official of the Year. This award recognizes the best college basketball referee.
- In 1995, he received the Gold Whistle Award from the National Association of Sports Officials.
- In 1998, he was honored by being inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He stopped being a referee on December 22, 2013. His last game was between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in Iowa City.
A Dedicated Educator
Besides being a top referee, Ed Hightower has spent his whole life working in education. He earned several degrees, including a bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He also has a doctorate in Education Administration from St. Louis University.
He was the superintendent of Edwardsville, Illinois School District #7. This district includes Edwardsville High School. He retired from this role after the 2014–15 school year.
Hightower also served as the vice chairman of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees. He is currently on the Boards of Directors for Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey and St. Anthony's Hospital in Alton.
Other Achievements
Ed Hightower has received many awards outside of sports for his contributions to the community:
- The 1990 Elijah P. Lovejoy Human Rights Award
- The Illinois Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Persons Award
- The 1989 Illinois Distinguished Principals Award
- The 1993 Illinois Principal of the Year Award
- He was selected as the 2007 Trails West Distinguished Citizen of the Year
Family and Community
Ed Hightower lives in Edwardsville with his wife, Barbara. They have two daughters, Julie and Jennifer. He is also involved in his church and the Edwardsville Rotary Club, which is a group that helps the community.
He is also the main person featured in a book called The Whistleblower. This book is all about college basketball refereeing.
