Dick Jorgensen
Encyclopedia
Dick Jorgensen was an American football official in the National Football League
(NFL) for 23 years until the conclusion of the 1989 NFL season
. Jorgensen's career was highlighted by being selected to referee Super Bowl XXIV
in 1990 and was an alternate official in Super Bowl VIII
and Super Bowl XV
. On the field, Jorgensen wore uniform number 60 for the majority of his career (he wore number 6 from 1979-81 when officials were numbered separately by position).
Jorgensen was a 1956 graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and was captain of the basketball
team his senior year.
In the NFL, Jorgensen was assigned to 12 post-season games that included four conference championship games and Super Bowl XXIV. What made this Super Bowl notable was that this was Jorgensen's last game as he died nearly nine months later from cancer on October 10, 1990 at age 56. Officials wore a shoulder patch with the number 60 on their uniforms the following season to honor Jorgensen.
He was survived by his wife, Adlone; three daughters, Londa, Susan, and Sarah, and eight grandchildren Nick, Katie, Beth, Kristin, Carlton, Tommy, Maggie and Jimmy.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) for 23 years until the conclusion of the 1989 NFL season
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
. Jorgensen's career was highlighted by being selected to referee Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV was an American football game played on January 28, 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1989 regular season...
in 1990 and was an alternate official in Super Bowl VIII
Super Bowl VIII
Super Bowl VIII was a professional American football game played on January 13, 1974 at Rice Stadium. in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 1973 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Miami Dolphins defeated the National Football...
and Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
. On the field, Jorgensen wore uniform number 60 for the majority of his career (he wore number 6 from 1979-81 when officials were numbered separately by position).
Jorgensen was a 1956 graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and was captain of the basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team his senior year.
In the NFL, Jorgensen was assigned to 12 post-season games that included four conference championship games and Super Bowl XXIV. What made this Super Bowl notable was that this was Jorgensen's last game as he died nearly nine months later from cancer on October 10, 1990 at age 56. Officials wore a shoulder patch with the number 60 on their uniforms the following season to honor Jorgensen.
He was survived by his wife, Adlone; three daughters, Londa, Susan, and Sarah, and eight grandchildren Nick, Katie, Beth, Kristin, Carlton, Tommy, Maggie and Jimmy.