Heard of the practice of paying it forward?
Larry Gleue is a man who is paying it forward. This fall Gleue enters his 35th season as a Kansas high school and junior high football official.
Gleue was named the 2009 Kansas Football Official of the Year by the National Football High School Officials Association.
“It was a very humbling letter,” Gleue said of the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s notification to him of the honor in February.
“I love the game of football and have a passion to be the best official I can be. That means studying the rule book and being prepared.”
Gleue remembers being taken under the wing by Wilfred Lehmann of Le Roy and George Cunningham of Humboldt when he began officiating. Lehmann is the one that asked him to consider officiating.
“Wilfred talked to me about it after we moved back to Le Roy in 1976. I had taught school and coached in New Mexico,” Gleue said. “I enjoyed coaching football and officiating was a good way to stay in the sport.”
Gleue said the late George Cunningham called him up when an official couldn’t work a game at Madison that first year. It was a varsity game with a three-man crew.
“I wasn’t sure I could do it, but he reassured me I could. It was baptism by fire and I learned as I went along,” Gleue said.
Since that first game, Gleue has worked countless junior high, junior varsity and varsity football games in the southeast area. He has been on the same crew, with Lehmann for 32 years, since he became a full-time official.
Gleue has worked games in Iola, Moran, Colony, Le Roy and Humboldt along with other schools in the area. He worked an “intense” schedule in the fall on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and then the playoffs.
“George was our area supervisor and held meetings for us. He also assigned us games. When his health made him resign from that position, I took over,” he said.
“I stress to all of our officials about rule book studying. I’m passionate about knowing the rules not just for the test we take to register but how to use the rules in game situations.”
He said he knows where coaches are coming from out there because he was a head baseball coach and assistant football coach. In the heat of the game, things are said out of frustration.
“As officials, we have to know the rules so we can explain to coaches and players why a call is made. And do it calmly,” Gleue said.
Changes have been made in rules and in the game itself over the years. Gleue said coaches and players have more tools to use to study the game. Today the players are bigger, stronger, faster because of the great weight programs available to athletes, he said.
“We, as officials, want to be approachable by players and coaches. I like it when a player asks questions. Also the best game is when we’re not making many calls,” Gleue said.
“One of the parts of my position I really enjoy is going and mentoring the young officials. I shadow them on the sidelines and step up and talk quietly to them during a game.”
Gleue said he enjoys the friendship bond between officials and being involved in high school athletics as an official. He has worked three state football final games, which is a “thrill.” His crew is working an eight-man all-star game this summer.
“My wife Wanda has been very supportive of my years as an official,” Gleue said. “During football season, I’m away from my family a lot.”
The Gleues have three grown children, two daughters and son. He did substitute teaching and farming since moving back to Le Roy.
Gleue graduated from Le Roy High School, went to school at Iola Junior College (Allen County Community College) and Emporia State University.
Le Roy’s Gleue is KSHSAA football official of the year
