Longtime Chicago-area sports referee Otho Kortz dies at 97

Kortz officiated high school and college games for over 30 years, including the 1978 Rose Bowl

Jan. 27, 2026 at 1:55pm

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Otho Kortz, a longtime sports referee in the Chicago area, has died at the age of 97. Kortz spent over three decades officiating high school and college baseball, football, and basketball games, including working as a referee for the Big Ten conference and officiating the 1978 Rose Bowl. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 1990.

Why it matters

Kortz's long career as a respected sports official in the Chicago area highlights the important role referees and umpires play in upholding the integrity and sportsmanship of athletic competitions at all levels. His dedication to officiating over several decades is a testament to his passion for the games and commitment to fair play.

The details

Kortz officiated Illinois high school baseball, football and basketball games from 1954 to 1986, and was a college football referee for the Big Ten conference from 1969 to 1986. He worked the 1978 Rose Bowl, the 1976 Fiesta Bowl, and the 1985 Liberty Bowl. Kortz also umpired baseball games, including at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg.

  • Kortz began refereeing football games while in college in the 1940s.
  • He officiated high school and college basketball games from 1954 to 1986.
  • Kortz was a high school and college baseball umpire from 1955 to 1983.
  • He was a high school and Big Ten football official from 1969 to 1986.
  • Kortz officiated the 1978 Rose Bowl on January 2, 1978.

The players

Otho Kortz

A 97-year-old longtime sports referee in the Chicago area who officiated high school and college baseball, football, and basketball games for over 30 years.

Warren Moon

The quarterback for the University of Washington in the 1978 Rose Bowl, which Kortz refereed.

Jerry Markbreit

A noted umpire and referee who worked the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg with Kortz.

Quentin Daniels

A friend of Kortz's for more than a dozen years who referred to Kortz as a "father figure".

Ricci Rodriguez

A 2002 Richards High School graduate who played football and baseball and affectionately called Kortz "Pops".

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What they’re saying

“There was nothing like the Rose Bowl. There were 106,000 people (there), millions watching on TV. It was a fantastic game and there I was, from Oak Lawn, Ill., running the whole darned thing as the referee. It was just a fantastic feeling to be out there and having (son) Jeff and my wife in the stands. A tremendous thrill.”

— Otho Kortz (Daily Southtown)

“He liked all the competition — (and) enforcing the rules, seeing the kids get a chance to compete, and seeing a reward for all their hard work at practice.”

— Jeff Kortz, Son of Otho Kortz (Chicago Tribune)

“We had a little club, the coffee club, where we would talk sports, football, baseball, basketball, whatever, and he was very influential in my life. He gave me a lot of insights. He was a very proud, very strong man, and a very good friend. He was like my father figure.”

— Quentin Daniels, Friend of Otho Kortz (Chicago Tribune)

“I'd stop and see him at McDonald's or Panera, and then when he started getting sick a little bit, I'd stop by his house and talk sports, like high school football. I always kept in touch with Pops from when I graduated, and he'd come see my daughter play softball when we lived closer in the area. We'd also talk about horseracing. He was just a great guy.”

— Ricci Rodriguez, 2002 Richards High School graduate (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Kortz's family and friends plan to hold a memorial service to celebrate his life and legacy as a beloved sports official in the Chicago area.

The takeaway

Otho Kortz's long and distinguished career as a sports referee in Illinois, including officiating high-profile college bowl games, underscores the vital role that officials play in upholding the integrity and sportsmanship of athletic competitions at all levels. His dedication and passion for the games he loved are an inspiration to the next generation of young referees and umpires.