officials

Jim Meyer

Year Inducted: 1990

Category: Officials

Schools / Organizations: IHSA
NAIA
WPBL

Biography: Jim Meyer, of New Athens, worked more than 2,000 high school and college basketball games before retiring at age 47. Meyer began his 26 years of officiating while attending McKendree College.  After filling in in 1960 at an Emge Grade School game in Belleville, Meyer soon began working junior varsity games. His big break came when he filled in for the Dupo Tournament, which drew numerous contracts at Dupo, Madison, Granite City and Jerseyville.  Soon he was working the southwestern conference. Highlights in Meyer’s career include refereeing the boys Class AA state title game between Proviso East and Bloom in 1974.  In 1982, Meyer worked the NAIA college final with Jim Bain. He also officiated the first Boys’ Class A state tournament in 1972. Meyer has worked 3 IHSA Districts, 30 IHSA Regionals, 17 IHSA Sectionals and 9 IHSA Super sectionals along with Carbondale (9), Centralia (7) and Columbia-Freeburg (6) holiday tournaments.  In 1980 and 1981, Jim worked eight games in the Women’s Professional Basketball League for the St. Louis Streak.