Summary
Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey has a passion for youth sports. He doesn't want games jeopardized by a lack of umpires or referees. So he volunteers in the small town of Sycamore, Illinois, about an hour west of Chicago. The Bears entered the draft with only four picks, including two in the first round.
George McCaskey is chairman of one of the NFL's charter franchises. Some parents of opposing players don't even realize the umpire is the grandson of George "Papa Bear" Halas. "He's just George," Sycamore resident Jan Rutherford said.
McCaskey takes pride in getting calls right, because he understands a call that goes against a young athlete can be heartbreaking. He arrives early to games and immediately seeks out the home team coach to let him know the game will be staffed. McCaskey doesn't want his umpiring to get in the way of players deciding the outcome of a game.
The Illinois High School Association will recognize girls' flag football as a sanctioned sport. McCaskey and the Bears' organization were instrumental in pushing state athletic directors to give the sport the same resources as tackle football. Unfortunately, the lack of officials remains the IHSA's chief concern.
