Bloomington-Normal Officials Association - BNOA

The BNOA will represented in the following games tomorrow. The ihsa girls State final tournament:

10:00 Class 1A Championship Justin Bowling

6:00 Class 4A Championship Jim Fairfield

Picture Day at the 2026 IHSA Girls State Basketball Tournament. Jim Fairfield and Justin Bowling representing the BNOA. [Photo credit: BNOA Basketball VP Chris White and HOF member Carlos Burton]

Congratulations to BNOA members Jim Fairfield and Justin Bowling on being selected to officiate the 2026 IHSA Girls State Finals at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois Sate University Thurs. 3/5-3/7.

Ken Nelson passed away this past Friday. Although not a BNOA member, I'm sure many had the pleasure of working with Ken. (His obituary is in the comments)

*UPDATE*
A service for Ken will be held Friday January 2nd at Freese Funeral home in Sidney beginning at 1pm. Graveside service to follow in St. Joseph.

I was informed that Ken Nelson passed away yesterday, December 26th.
Ken was a long time area multi-sport official that reached the state finals in football and girls basketball during his tenure.

The Champaign Officials Association officers and members send our deepest condolences to the Nelson family in their time of grief.

As we become aware of more information, it will be shared under this notice.

Congratulations to BNOA member Roger Nichols on receiving an IHSA Distinguished Service Award. Roger has worked IHSAstate finals in girls basketball and softball as well as serving as the COO for IHSA Softball the past several years. Additionally, Roger is also a licensed baseball umpire.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BXJ2fcMs9/

Congratulations to officials Mike Fitzgerald, Lance Reece and former University High School Coach Cal Hubbard on their induction into the Wayne L. Meece BNOA Hall of Fame at the association's banquet last night.

Congratulations to BNOA member Richard Doman on being recognized as the 2025 IHSA Boys Basketball Official of the Year

I saw this on the Bloomington athletic history page and although I did not know or ever officiate coach McCombs, I know that he was a standard bearer of football in Bloomington normal for a long time, not only at Bloomington high School.

Justin Bowling
President
BNOA

We have some sad news to report as Raider Athletic History has been informed that former football coach and athletic director Terry McCombs passed away last night.

McCombs succeeded the late Bob Frank in 1989 as athletic director and set the course for the future in Raiderville. His football teams started a winning tradition of 27 consecutive years in the state playoffs, and the first team to appear in a state championship game in 1991, compiling a record of 111-43.

McCombs was also responsible for creating some statistical history for the football program when there wasn't one, and put Purple Raider athletics in the forefront. A number of teams would win Big 12 titles during his four years, including boys' basketball, girls' basketball, boys' tennis, girls' tennis, girls' swimming, football, wrestling, and boys' track. Girls' bowling would also be introduced during his tenure, which ended when he became athletic director at Downers Grove South.

Here's a bit of trivia for you: when McCombs left BHS in 1993, it took two people to succeed him in John Szabo (athletic director) and Rigo Schmelzer (head football coach). At the same time, WJBC did the same thing when replacing long-time news director and program director Steve Vogel with two people (Dan Swaney for programming, Marc Magliari for news) when Vogel left for State Farm.

Our condolences to the McCombs family during this difficult time.

Chris Smith will have the plate for the Class 4A semi-final between McHenry and Brother Rice tonight. Tomorrow, he will have third base for the Class 3A State Championship in Joliet.

Congratulations to BNOA member Chris Smith on being selected to umpire the IHSA Class 3A/4A Baseball State Finals at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet.

The following BNOA members will be officiating IHSA girls state championship games today.

1:00 p.m. Class 1A Terry Whalen
3:00 p.m. Class 2A Derek Sieg
8:00 p.m. Class 4A Chris White

All three of these fine officials currently serve on the BNOA executive board as well.

Congratulations!!!

It is with great sadness that bring you the news of the passing of BNOA Hall of Famer John Snyder better known as "The Dean." The Dean was the long time teacher, boys basketball coach and athletic director at Central Catholic High School. He was very influential in Intercity high school athletics and in the careers of a lot of officials in the Bloomington-Normal area.

Below is a link to his obituary on Carmody-Flynn's website.

John Snyder Obituary (1931 - 2025) - Normal, Illinois John was born on December 7th, 1931 and passed away on February 17th, 2025 at the age of 93