Doak receives achievement award

On March 22, Joe Doak of Thermopolis was honored by the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation with the Ox Zellner Football Official Career Achievement Award.

Doak, who is in his 41st year officiating football and basketball in Wyoming, said he was nominated by Kermit Sweeney of Worland and Heath Hayes of Douglas, and being named an award recipient was a very humbling experience.

Doak began his officiating career in 1977, when he became a Wyoming High School Activities Association member and a member of the Wyoming High School Officials Association. He was recently recognized by the two organizations with their Distinguished Service Award for 40 years of service in football and basketball.

In his officiating career, Doak has worked 28 State Football playoff games, the 3A championship football game in 2001, 25 regional basketball tournaments, five state basketball tournaments, the 2A girls state championship basketball game in 1986, the Wyoming-Montana All-Star Game three times and has been asked to officiate the 2018 Wyoming Shrine Bowl game.

Doak has also been recognized as one of the state's top ASA softball officials, and has umpired several national tournaments, well over 62 tournaments at all levels.

Born in Thermopolis, Doak moved to Ten Sleep and graduated in 1967. He graduated from Black Hills State in 1973 and relocated to Thermopolis in 1974, where he bought the Sideboard Café.

He began working at the Wyoming Boys' School in 1988, retiring after more than 27 years.

In his years of officiating, Doak's memories include being tackled by a defensive player, having his duffle bag duct taped shut and having his referee pants hidden during the state tournament.

Doak and his wife, Linda, have two children and one grandchild. He said it was great his family could be with him at the award ceremony.

Reffing, he said, can be a "hard nut to crack," as it is a position that takes one all over the state and away from family a large part of the time. It also provides him an opportunity to see just how much sports mean to the communities in Wyoming.

Though previous years have seen only one winner of the Ox Zellner award named, 2018 had two recipients, the other being Joe White of Lovell. Their connection goes much further than the award, however, as Doak noted he played against White while they were in high school and the two officiated together for about 20 years.