Officials

Otho Kortz

Year Inducted: 1990

Category: Officials

Schools / Organizations:
IHSA
Big Ten Conference

NCAA/NAIA

Biography: Otho T. Kortz Jr. retired from officiating in 1986 as one of the most respected to ever don the striped shirt. Kortz began officiating in 1954 and started working games in Illinois High School Association basketball tournament series in 1959. He was on the floor of the Assembly Hall working the “Elite Eight” in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Kortz was one of the officials for Thornridge’s second straight championship game win in 1972. He has had numerous assignments of NAIA District 20 playoffs over the years. Korz was also one of the top football officials in the country working the Big Ten from 1969-1986, the Rose Bowl in 1978 and the North-South Shrine game in the Detroit Silver Dome in 1976. Kortz was a Big Ten baseball umpire and has credits as a many-time NCAA and NAIA playoff umpire. In 1967 he umpired the Pan American Games in Winnipeg.