Mason Lee "Red" Cashion(November 10, 1931 – February 10, 2019)[2][3]was anAmerican football officialfor 25 seasons in theNational Football League(NFL), where he was the referee for twoSuper Bowls.
Red Cashion | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mason L. Cashion November 10, 1931 |
| Died | February 10, 2019(aged 87) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University[1] |
| Occupation | NFLofficial(1972–1996) |
| Spouse | Lou Burgess Cashion (d.1999) |
Biography
editCashion started officiating in 1952 while attendingTexas A&M University,and then worked for various high school andcollege footballconferences, most notably theSouthwest Conference.From 1972 to 1996, he officiated in theNational Football League(NFL), and was the referee inSuper Bowl XXandSuper Bowl XXX.Cashion began his career as a line judge in 1972 following the death of refereeJack Vest,which in turn created an opening at line judge whenChuck Heberlingwas promoted to referee to replace Vest. Cashion was promoted to referee in 1976 upon the retirement of long-time refereeNorm Schachterand the addition ofSeattleandTampa Bay.He wore uniform number 43 for most of his career. During the 1979–1981 seasons, when officials were numbered separately by positions instead of having one number assigned to each official, he wore number 8.
Cashion was known by NFL players, coaches, and fans for his signaturefirst downcall in which he would enthusiastically drawl"First dowwwwwn!"out to the crowd. In a 1997 interview with theSporting News,he said, "I don't know of any time that started it or stopped it. It was just something that sort of evolved and been there ever since".[4]Cashion's promotion to referee came just one season after the NFL began equipping referees with wireless microphones to explain penalty calls and complex rulings to fans in the stadium, members of the media, and the television audience at home.
Cashion was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[5]He also provided the voice of the referee for several versions of theMadden NFLvideo game.[6]
Cashion died at age 87 on February 10, 2019.[7]
Further reading
edit- Cashion, Red (2012).First Dooowwwnnn...and Life to Go!: How an Enthusiastic Approach Changed Everything for the Most Colorful Referee in NFL History.with Rusty Burson. AuthorHouse.ISBN978-1477225639.
References
edit- ^abWiley, Kenny (February 10, 2019)."Longtime NFL referee 'Red' Cashion passes away".Tyler Morning Telegraph.Tyler, Texas.RetrievedFebruary 11,2019.
- ^Lester, Sean (September 11, 2013)."Born an Aggie".The Battalion.RetrievedFebruary 10,2019.
- ^Williams, Charean (February 10, 2019)."Former NFL referee Red Cashion dies at 87".Profootballtalk.com.RetrievedFebruary 10,2019.
- ^"Last call for… 'first dowwwnnn!' - football referee Red Cashion" by Dennis Dillon,The Sporting News,January 6, 1997.
- ^"In Memory of Red Cashion: 1931- 2019".tshof.org.RetrievedDecember 9,2020.
- ^"Red Cashion, former NFL Referee, passes away".PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.RetrievedJanuary 6,2023.
- ^Wiley, Kenny (February 11, 2019)."Former NFL referee and Bryan-College Station businessman Red Cashion dies at 87".The Eagle.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
External links
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