OBOA’s Dean Symons celebrating fifty-second year of basketball refereeing

Long-time official Dean Symons refereeing during the recent captains veterans basketball evening. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Trivia question: which member of the Oxford Basketball Officials’ Association (OBOA) is refereeing his 52nd season this year?

Hint: he was invited to Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in 1976.

Second, he officiated 122 games last year and doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.

Finally, if his legs hold up, he plans to still be blowing his referee’s whistle in three years at the age of 75.

“That’s my goal,” said Dean Symons. “As long as I can still run.”

Born in London, Symons grew up in Woodstock, attending Victoria and Central Public Schools, and Grade 9 at Woodstock CI. With his father’s passing, his mother moved to Port Elgin to open a hotel, Dean following at the end of the school year. He played shortstop on community fastball teams - with and against legendary pitcher Brad Underwood, if never getting a hit off him - and high school soccer and basketball, scoring 54 points one game against Lion’s Head.

“A lot of two pointers and foul shots - no three-pointers back then,” he laughed.

Symons credits sport for getting him through life, giving him focus and keeping him in school.

“I had to keep my marks up to play.”

Symons’ minor hockey career had ended in Woodstock with the family’s move, but he was able to pick back up with high school friends in a local industrial league. Beyond one season with the University of Windsor Lancers, his Port Elgin Sunocos won the Intermediate C title when Symons was 21. He earned an invitation to the Durham Senior Huskies, where he led the league with 72 goals. Symons played against Lucan, London, Stratford and returned to the site of his minor hockey days in the Perry Street Arena, a sign there’‘welcoming’ (coach) ‘Jim Nixon’s travelling animal show.’

“Everybody hated us,” said Symons, whose large, physical teammates created space for his offensive talents to shine.

He attracted the attention of London Kings’ opponent Jim Keon, Toronto Maple Leaf Dave Keon’s brother, whose positive review resulted in an invitation to the NHL team’s 1976 training camp. Red Kelly was coach at the time of a Leafs roster that included Darryl Sitler, Lanny McDonald and Borje Salming.

“That was Mike Palmateer’s first year,” said Symons, who was first into the dressing room and first onto the old Maple Leaf Gardens ice for his first practice.

“I stood at centre ice and looked around and thought, ‘Man, this is pretty cool.’”

Symons scored the team’s first goal of the pre-season during an all-rookies game against Dallas, taking a pass from the corner in the slot.

“I put it upstairs in the top corner… stick side.”

He also recalled the outgoing nature of Bruce Boudreau, nicknamed ‘Gabby’ for his constant humorous chatter.

“He was a hoot in the dressing room.”

Admittedly, Symons was something of a ‘lone wolf’, an industrial league invitee among college grads and draft picks. Further, it was in the Broad Street Bullies era, back-to-back Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup runs based on physical intimidation.

“The whole training camp was just fighting,” said Symons, a skill player then and now running around 170 pounds, soaking wet. He remembers one short stocky campmate in particular, who getting on the team bus for a ride to an alternative arena, would stare everyone down, take off his shirt and do push-ups for the entire drive.

“As soon as they dropped the puck, he’d take anybody who’d take him on.”

Symons lasted a week and a half, returning to a couple of more industrial league hockey seasons in Port Elgin, accompanied by a unique lifelong memory.

“I was a scorer not a fighter and they had their scorers.”

He also returned to refereeing basketball games. Recruited at the game of 20 by a friend due to a shortage of officials in the area, Symons quickly found an affinity for being part of the live competition combined with opportunity to stay in shape.

He continued to officiate while moving from the family bar and restaurant to a career with the LCBO, onward through promotions to Norwich in 1991, Delhi and eventually his adopted community of Tillsonburg, connecting with the OBOA through Stan Rekstis. Symons continues to referee high school games - an invitation to officiate at an OFSAA A girls’ tournament near Windsor remains a highlight - and with OBA and OBL club competition. However elementary games hold a special attraction, given a combination of both refereeing and teaching, acting in part as an on-court instructor for young players still learning the game.

“I like that part of it.”

His 34-year officiating history in this area means he referees kids of kids he started with, quite possibly grandkids, a progression reflected in his own family. Dean and wife Sue’s daughters Brandi and Brooke and their children enjoy sports, Brooke going on to play basketball at Fanshawe college and captaining the women’s team during her second season there.

Recalling every name of players he’s officiated through the years may not be Dean’s strong suit, however he does recognize faces, thoroughly appreciating reconnecting with previous generations while connecting with new players, trading ‘high fives’ with elementary athletes following games.

“That makes me feel good.”

OBOA assigner Nino DeLuca has a tradition of going around the table during the association’s first meeting, combining introductions with a question on years of service.

“He always comes last to me,” said Symons, whose ascending total never fails to surprise newcomers. “The young guys are 20 years old.”

In conclusion, Symons’ goal is to turn this year’s ’52’ into ’55’, which would coincide with turning 75.

“I might just be doing (Grade) 7/8,” he concluded. “But if I can make it that far, at least I’ve done it.”