Hays man honored for more than four decades of sports officiating

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“I took an officiating class at Barton County JUCO in 1973 and the rest is history.”

That’s how Hays resident Rich Sieker began his journey to recently being honored by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, Topeka.

Sieker was recognized for his decades of service to KSHSAA while serving as an active official.

The plaque he received from KSHSAA reads 40 years of officiating. It’s actually been 45 years, according to Sieker.

“I should have let them know about it sooner,” he smiled.

The class that started it all was taught by Gary Tranbarger at the Great Bend junior college.

Tranbarger assigned Sieker and his classmates to officiate area junior high and high school junior varsity games in Larned, St. John and Hoisington, as well as in Great Bend. If the students were good enough, they moved up to officiating high school varsity games.

Sieker was better than good enough.

He went on to work college football for three years and college women’s basketball for 20 years. He officiated many state playoff games as well as Kansas Shrine Bowls for standout high school football players across the Sunflower State.

“I was blessed to start working varsity in 1979 with a great group of guys in Russell where I taught history at Ruppenthal Middle School. ”

Rich Sieker (with black cap) stands at attention prior to the start of a Hays High School football game. (Courtesy photo)

Sieker, 64, still fills in on football crews as needed.

He says he’s “been blessed to work with some great individuals” who went on to become outstanding college players, including Jackie Stiles of Claflin, and many others as well as soon-to-be pro athletes including Jordy Nelson who played for Riley County High School, Kansas State, the Green Bay Packers and the L.A. Raiders, retiring last fall.

Sieker also recalls a lot of “wonderful coaches and officiating partners” including Larry Dougherty, Monty Applehans, Mark Goodheart, Brad Taylor, Todd Tichenor who became a Major League baseball umpire, Mark Brack, brothers John and Jim Adams, John Bruckner and Fred Schweer.

Editor’s note: Rick Sieker is an employee of Eagle Communications, the parent company of Hays Post.