Juneau whistle blower receives state honor
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 3:47 am
Longtime Juneau referee Robert Sims, 75, was named the 2024-25 Alaska Sports Official of the Year recently by a joint committee of members from the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
“This is a relatively new recognition sponsored by NFHS and ASAA,” ASAA Associate Director Brian Hosken, the committee head, said. “It is for current officials…last year’s winner was Mike Goodwin out of Fairbanks.”
The award noted that “Sims’ outstanding achievement is a reflection of his exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the sports of football, softball, and volleyball throughout our state…Officiating across three highly competitive and fast-paced sports, Robert demonstrates a deep understanding of each game but also an unwavering commitment to fairness, consistency, and integrity. His ability to carry out these responsibilities with professionalism and poise has earned the respect of country wise email marketing list coaches, athletes, fellow officials, and the wider sports community.”
Sims said the award was a complete shock.
“I had no clue it existed,” he said. “There are a lot of officials around the state that are so deserving.”
Long time Juneau official Bob Sims, shown last week at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park, has been named the 2024-25 Alaska Sports Official of the Year by a committee sponsored through the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Long time Juneau official Bob Sims, shown last week at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park, has been named the 2024-25 Alaska Sports Official of the Year by a committee sponsored through the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sims said he gave up the basketball whistle in 2022, but continues officiating volleyball, fast-pitch softball and football, the tally of games involved is hard to fathom.
“For softball we recently had 11 home games and then I went to Sitka for a tournament and did eight games there,” Sims said. “That’s 20, then went there for a regular series…and for volleyball we had JIVE plus two home series so about 20 games…and then of course four home football games.”
“This is a relatively new recognition sponsored by NFHS and ASAA,” ASAA Associate Director Brian Hosken, the committee head, said. “It is for current officials…last year’s winner was Mike Goodwin out of Fairbanks.”
The award noted that “Sims’ outstanding achievement is a reflection of his exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the sports of football, softball, and volleyball throughout our state…Officiating across three highly competitive and fast-paced sports, Robert demonstrates a deep understanding of each game but also an unwavering commitment to fairness, consistency, and integrity. His ability to carry out these responsibilities with professionalism and poise has earned the respect of country wise email marketing list coaches, athletes, fellow officials, and the wider sports community.”
Sims said the award was a complete shock.
“I had no clue it existed,” he said. “There are a lot of officials around the state that are so deserving.”
Long time Juneau official Bob Sims, shown last week at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park, has been named the 2024-25 Alaska Sports Official of the Year by a committee sponsored through the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Long time Juneau official Bob Sims, shown last week at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park, has been named the 2024-25 Alaska Sports Official of the Year by a committee sponsored through the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sims said he gave up the basketball whistle in 2022, but continues officiating volleyball, fast-pitch softball and football, the tally of games involved is hard to fathom.
“For softball we recently had 11 home games and then I went to Sitka for a tournament and did eight games there,” Sims said. “That’s 20, then went there for a regular series…and for volleyball we had JIVE plus two home series so about 20 games…and then of course four home football games.”