Football, basketball, volleyball and softball. Mo has seen it all.
Mo Elliott is a former Iola High teacher, coach and administrator. He has been involved with Kansas high school and middle school athletics for more than 50 years.
Each time he suits up for a game, spectators and players alike can find him in the thick of the action as an official in those four sports.
Today before the championship game at the 2012 Kansas Class 2A State Softball Tournament, Elliott will receive his 50-year service pin from the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). Elliott is working the softball tournament this weekend in Emporia.
“I love it. I love being around the kids and talking to them about the sport or just asking them how things are going,” Elliott said of his longevity as an official of high school sports.
Elliott grew up in Minneapolis, Kan. and played four years of basketball at the College of Emporia. While a senior in college, he was asked by his head coach if he wanted a job. He worked a junior high tournament in Admire.
Elliott started as a business and math teacher at Madison. He worked on his masters degree in the teacher’s program through Emporia State University. He would later receive a masters of administration degree from Pittsburg State University.
He left Madison and moved to Chanute in 1968.
“Herb Swender asked if I would fill in a spot on his football officiating crew. I registered on Thursday and worked my first game that Friday,” Elliott said.
Elliott worked 25 years as a football official. He went 42 years in basketball. He is still working volleyball — now his 33rd year — and softball — now his 21st year.
He has also worked junior college basketball games over the years.
Elliott came to Iola and worked as a teacher and administrator then finished out his 23 years here as an assistant principal at Iola High school. He retired in 2000.
This weekend is his 20th state softball tournament. He said that he worked 18 state basketball tournaments over the years and around 20 state volleyball tournaments.
“I’ve worked nine state championship games in basketball and five state volleyball championship matches. I’ve officiated in the last five state championship games at the 2A softball tournament,” Elliott said.
“I never worked a state football championship game. I came close one year but had a ruptured disc before the substate game. My crew went on to work the championship game.”
