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The South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting their 14th annual induction ceremony on Sunday, September 22nd in Sioux Falls. Of the 19 inductees of the class of 2024, one of them is long-time referee, Milo Wepking. Wepking was a referee for both basketball and football for 30 and 35 years respectively. He is one of four referees (Leon Tobin, Pat Morrison and Vern McKee) that are being honored posthumously with an induction to the SD Sports Hall of Fame this year. Wepking was born and raised in Avon, graduating from Avon High School in 1940. During his high school years, Wepking was a standout athlete in both baseball and basketball. In baseball Wepking was an exceptional pitcher and hitter for the Pirates. In 1940 he led Avon to the American Legion Baseball State Tournament. After high school Wepking attended Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield where he received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree. He then obtained his Master’s Degree in Education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion before pursuing his Doctorate at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. His education and basketball career were put on hold while he was attending Southern State as he was drafted to serve in WWII from 1942-1945, earning two Bronze Stars for his service. His career as a referee started in the late 1940s when he began refereeing for both high school and college basketball and high school football. Ravinia High School was the sight of the first game of Wepking’s refereeing career. Wepking was a part of a generation of officials that were treated with the upmost respect from players, coaches and fans. Where officials were looked at as the “Guardians of Basketball”. As his officiating career progressed, Wepking noticed a shift in how referees were treated seeing more disrespect which he felt was due to television and the public’s lack of knowledge about the sport. Wepking was chosen in 1953 to officiate his first State Basketball Tournament, which was the upmost honor amongst referees, especially if selected to officiate for a championship game. During Wepking’s officiating career, he refereed over 20 championship games. He also officiated at the first State “B” Basketball Tournament in Huron and was one of the first officiants to referee in both the Class “A” and Class “B” State Tournaments. Wepking ended his career having officiated for 8 consecutive years in the Class “B” State Tournament and 12 consecutive years for the Class “A” State Tournament. According to a 1981 article written by Sports Editor, Peggy Jansa, people were under the impression that being an officiate came with a lot of money and that it was an easy job, with neither of them being true. In the article when Wepking was asked why he had stayed so long he replied “…I’ve stayed in because I love sports. I’ve made many lasting relationships over the years…”. The relationships that Wepking made with fans, players, coaches, players’ parents and families were important to him. Even though sport officials come from all walks of life, there are certain qualifications that are required including passing a written test and attending a basketball clinic in order to become certified. Wepking felt that the best officials were the ones that had actually played the game that way the official was well acquainted with the fundamentals of the sport that he or she wanted to officiate. In the Jansa article Wepking also says, “Judgements can’t be obtained by memorizing the rules. If you’ve played the game, you seem to have a sixth sense that you don’t seem to have if you haven’t played”. Wepking officiated with a unique style that made him popular among coaches, players, fans and even other referees. He was known throughout South Dakota’s basketball circles as “Mr. Referee” and was just as well-known as the top players in the state. He was a well-respected official that officiated with integrity, treating the players with respect as well as creating an even playing field for both teams. In the 1960s he was selected as the referee of the decade because he was “…everyone’s favorite official… Milo’s imposing 6-foot, 6-inch figure and booming voice were fixtures in the area’s sports scene for many years,” said Yankton Press and Dakotan sports reporter, Hod Nielsen. Wepking blew his last whistle as a basketball referee in 1979, but continued to referee high school football for the next five years, putting down the whistle for good in 1984. From 1972-1978, Wepking was named the Commissioner of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference. Among his duties were to assign and supervise officials for all SDIC games. There could not have been a better candidate for the job. This will not be Wepking’s first induction into a South Dakota Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame as well as the South Dakota High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Shrine in 1991. Wepking unfortunately passed away in 2004. At the time of his passing, he was the Vice President for National College. He had been the Director of National College in Colorado Springs, CO and the former Director of Admissions for Nettleton College in Sioux Falls and Huron College in Huron. After returning from his service in WWII, Wepking met and married his wife, Barbara Erdmier of Illinois. The couple had three children, Jill (Sioux Falls), Jeffrey (Avon) and Jan (Phoenix, AZ). They were blessed with six grandchildren Jean, Kelly, Nikki, Jonathan, Macall and Jennifer as well as seven great-grandchildren. As Wepking has passed away, his son, Jeffrey, will be receiving his plaque in his honor at the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony. Congratulations to Milo and the legacy that he has left behind having touched the lives of all who had the pleasure to know this incredible man.