Job well done: Bob Godby hangs up his whistle after 40 years as a referee

By CHUCK GODBY
During the past 40 basketball seasons, he’s been a referee in every gymnasium in Hamilton County, and many others in surrounding counties.
He’s one of the most respected officials around, but he’s never done a state finals game, or even a sectional game. In fact, he has refereed very few varsity games.
If there was a Hall of Fame for junior high, freshmen and junior varsity referees, though, then Bob Godby would go in on the first ballot.
Bob is my brother. He’s a 63-year-old husband and loving father of three children and three grandkids. This is my tribute to him, He’s one of the finest, hardest-working people I’ve ever known. During my years involved with sports in Hamilton County, I’ve met many people who know my brother as a referee. No one who has spoken to me about him has ever said anything close to negative.
It seems only natural that he would have been an outstanding referee. At Sheridan High School, he won 11 varsity letters, including four in football and baseball, and three in basketball.
He was such a respected football player that a player from a rival school once told me that when they were preparing to play Sheridan, a player on their offense had to wear a jersey with Bob’s number on it all week long so the defense could focus on stopping him.
I didn’t really like him all that much growing up. He and my little brother Joe teamed up to beat me up a lot. I was kind of nerdy and annoying, though, so I probably deserved it. And there was that time after Bob got his driver’s license and wanted to drive to town. I wanted to go so bad and Mom said he could go if he took me.
We were halfway to town when Bob stopped the car and told me to get in the back seat. About the time we reached Curryville, I was told to lie on the floor and don’t move. So I did. We drove up and down Main Street a few times before heading home. I didn’t dare raise from that floor. You can bet I was back in the front seat, though, when we pulled into the home driveway.
By the time Bob was a senior and I was a sophomore, I was starting to realize just how special my big brother was. Not only was he a great athlete, I couldn’t help but notice how opposing players, coaches and game officials respected him.
He carried that right into an officiating career that has also included football, baseball, softball and volleyball.
Before he became the IHSAA Commissioner, Bobby Cox was an athletic director at Carmel and he hired my brother to work many games there.
“During my days as an athletic administrator, I hired Bob many times to call our basketball games,” Cox said. “I was assured he would call his best game and was always professional with everyone associated with the contest. For an athletic director, that is all you can ask for and Bob delivered every time.”
Cox, who recently announced his retirement as IHSAA Commissioner, concluded: “Just wanted to pass along my congratulations and sincere thanks to Bob Godby for his 40 years of service to thousands of Hoosier students while serving as a contest official. Congratulations to my friend for a journey well-traveled.”
I knew Dave Platt as the baseball coach at Carmel High. My brother Bob knew him as a junior high athletic director at Carmel Middle School from 1994 to 2010.
“One of Bob’s most noticeable traits was his love of sports and kids,” Platt told me. “He was so dependable. Never worried about him not showing up, but if for some reason he needed to cancel, he provided as much notice as possible, and sometimes found his own replacement, which was much appreciated.
“Bob was always prepared for whatever sport he was officiating,” Platt continued. “He knew the rules. He understood the sport. No one ever questioned his integrity and he was consistent. He also communicated with the kids and coaches, and he always hustled.”
“The game was never about him, which isn’t the case with some officials. He was among the very best I had the pleasure to work with,” Platt concluded.
My brother would shy away from being interviewed for this story, but a few years ago I asked him about any funny moments he recalled.
“I was doing a game at Hamilton Heights and I was standing along the sideline waiting to hand the ball off to start the half,” he said. “This lady, she was probably in her seventies, walked by me carrying popcorn and a drink and I said hello. She stopped and said “Get in the game,’ then walked off.”
Ruth McKinney was once an athletic director at Heights, and worked with my brother.
“He was always on time with a smile on his face,” she recalled. “He was very professional and always fair. If I needed help at the last minute, he’d be there if he was available.”
Ruth’s husband, Scott, was once a varsity basketball coach and later joined the officiating ranks.
“Scott looks up to Bob because he had been officiating so long and was easy to work with,” she said. “I think Bob enjoyed working at Hamilton Heights most because of our hospitality room.”
And she’s probably right. I knew that’s where I’d always find him when I was doing the public address announcing there.
When the 2019-20 basketball season ended, Bobby Godby hung up his whistle a final time. No rocking chair or pre-game tributes, just a job well done, big brother.