Missouri Sports Hall of Famer Jim Vaughan died at the age of 93 on Monday.
Vaughan was a staple at HIllcrest High for years as a coach for multiple sports after being a decorated athlete.
Vaughan was also a dedicated basketball referee for 37 years in the area.
When he retired in 2000, Vaughan had officiated hundreds of games, including districts, sectionals and state championships as well as 162 games in the Greenwood Blue & Gold Tournament and 16 years in the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
At one point, he officiated a Dixon game involving future University of Missouri star John Brown as well as Bradleyville’s “Hicks from the Sticks” state championship teams of 1967 and 1968.
In 1998, the Missouri Interscholastic Administrators Association presented him with the Distinguished Service Awards, and the National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association named Vaughan the Missouri Boys Basketball Official of the Year.
Additionally, he was inducted into the Southwest Missouri Basketball Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2004. Which was an appropriate honor considering Vaughan officiated almost every high school conference around Springfield except for the Ozark Conference since Hillcrest was a member.
When asked about his reffing career, Vaughan said “It was a run. And you know what? I’d give anything to do it again.”
