04/29/2025
The Alabama Sports Officials Foundation is proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Ten outstanding individuals will be inducted at the ASOF Banquet on Saturday, August 2, in Oxford, Alabama. This distinguished class features some of the most accomplished officials in the sports of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and softball. Ron Alexander, Kevin Alan Assmann, David Bell, Warren Bowron, Bobby Brock, Joe Frank Fowler, Larry Galloway, Wilmer Sigler Sr., David Stephenson, and Stewart Stephenson.
Ron Alexander
Ron Alexander has dedicated more than thirty years to officiating and is widely regarded as one of the premier softball umpires in the nation. Currently serving as the Assistant Coordinator of Softball Umpires for the Southeastern Conference, Ron has worked the NCAA Tournament since 1997, including appearances at the Women's College World Series in 2017 and 2021. He has officiated eight regional tournaments, five super regionals, and sixteen years of conference championships across the SEC, ACC, CUSA, and Sun Belt. Ron also works in the SEC Video Replay Center and serves as Lead Trainer at the Diamond Umpire Academy. His distinguished career also includes officiating the ASA Men's Open and ASA Women's Class C National Championships. Ron presented at the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Summit in 2021. In addition to his collegiate accomplishments, he served as an AHSAA softball and basketball official for over thirty years, working fourteen basketball state championships and numerous softball state tournaments, and served thirteen years as a basketball camp instructor. He was also named state softball umpire of the year in 2001. A graduate of Meade County High School (KY) and Oakwood College (AL), Ron is married to Vera Alexander. They have three children — LaMont, Christopher, and Peronica — along with six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Kevin Alan Assmann
Kevin Alan Assmann brings four decades of excellence in officiating basketball and baseball. A respected basketball official, Kevin worked numerous state tournaments and served as an officer in his local association. However, he is best known for his outstanding career in baseball officiating at the high school, collegiate, and minor league levels. He officiated in the Southeastern, Sun Belt, and Atlantic Coast Conferences and served as supervisor of officials for the Panhandle, Southern Intercollegiate, and Alabama Community Colleges. Steve Kittrell, legendary University of South Alabama baseball coach, praised Kevin for his professionalism and rule knowledge. Fellow Hall of Famer Owen Butts credited him for his dedication to training the next generation of umpires. Kevin officiated several AHSAA baseball state championships and served as the Southwest District Director of Umpires. He has shared his life with Martha Smith for the past 35 years.
David Bell
David Bell has dedicated 45 years to football officiating, serving both on the field and in leadership roles as a district director and state coordinator of football officials. As a member of the North Alabama Football Officials Association (NAFOA), David served ten years as President and twenty-five years on the board. He officiated six AHSAA State Championships, five as the Referee. He was featured on the cover of FNF Coaches magazine in August 2019 alongside Grissom Head Coach Chip English, who noted, “David is one of the best at what he does because he cares.” Ken Washington, AHSAA Director of Officials, praised David’s legacy of mentorship and commitment. A graduate of Brewer High School and the University of North Alabama, David is married to Laura Bell and has three children — Ryan, Daniel, and Chelsea Ralston — along with eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Warren Bowron
Warren Bowron began officiating basketball while still in high school and later became best known for his 35-year football officiating career. After graduating from Troy State University, he joined the Enterprise Football Officials Association (now Tri-County FBOA) in 1974, where he served over thirty years on the board and worked three state championship games. Greg Brewer appointed him as Southeast Football District Director, and his successor, Mark Kelly, praised Warren’s selfless mentorship. Warren received the Greg Brewer Distinguished Service Award in 2018. He has also made a profound impact on Special Olympics, coaching and serving in leadership roles. Warren and his wife, Rhonda, have two children — Warren Jr. and Ashley — and four grandchildren.
Bobby Brock
Robert E. "Bobby" Brock was a multi-sport star at Sidney Lanier High School and Virginia Tech before launching a distinguished officiating career. Bobby excelled in basketball and football officiating with the AHSAA before becoming one of the SEC's premier basketball officials. Selected by Cliff Harper, Bobby officiated legendary games involving coaching icons like Adolph Rupp and Frank McGuire and players like Pete Maravich and Artis Gilmore. Known for his integrity and professionalism, he was frequently assigned to the SEC’s nationally televised games. Bobby retired from officiating after the 1970 season to care for his wife, a decision that reflected his extraordinary character. Bobby passed away on November 6, 2023. He was married for 68 years to Mary Lucie Carmichael Brock and is survived by their three sons — Mike, Jim, and Davis — five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Joe Frank Fowler
Joe Frank Fowler’s induction marks his third Hall of Fame honor, having previously been enshrined in the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame (2009) and the Lauderdale County Sports Hall of Fame (2000). A 1955 graduate of Rogers High School, Fowler was affectionately known as "Mr. Referee" throughout Northwest Alabama. Registered with the AHSAA in at least one sport for sixty years, he officiated baseball, basketball, and football, participating in numerous state championships. He was a founding member of the Alabama Junior College Officials Association and officiated in the Gulf South Conference from its inception. Fowler also officiated many UNA baseball games before retiring from college officiating in 1988 and from high school officiating in 1991 due to health issues. Nevertheless, he continued his commitment as an assigner, camp instructor, and football district director. He was known for his unwavering integrity, as attested by Hall of Fame inductees Mark Jones and Paul Andrzejewski. From 1994 to 2016, he operated the clock at the AHSAA Basketball State Tournament in Birmingham. Joe was married to the late Jackie Fowler and had a son, Brian, along with two grandchildren.
Larry Galloway
Larry Galloway's distinguished 46-year officiating career spanned three states — Alabama, Florida, and Texas. He began officiating in Alabama in 1974, moved to Florida and Texas in the 1980s, and returned to Alabama in 1992 to finish his career in 2022. In Texas, Galloway officiated multiple baseball all-star games and three Final Four State Championships, earning the Texas Outstanding Baseball Umpire Award in 1989. He also spent six years umpiring in the Southwest Conference. In Alabama, Larry officiated multiple All-Star Games and two state championship games in both baseball and football. He was recognized for his mentorship and leadership, receiving the Southeast Alabama Football Gene Calhoun Spirit of Service Award in 2019 and the statewide Greg Brewer Distinguished Service Award in 2017. A graduate of Geneva County High School, Larry is married to Glenda Galloway and has two sons, Brian and Matt, and six grandchildren.
Wilmer Sigler Sr.
Wilmer Sigler Sr. boasts over 45 years of officiating experience, including two decades at the collegiate level in the Alabama Junior College and Gulf Coast Athletic Conferences, and fifteen years in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Concurrently, he served as the head baseball coach at LeFlore High School for 35 years. Wilmer is credited with mentoring prominent officials, including NCAA Final Four official Pat Adams, WNBA official Metta Roberts, and NBA official Sean Wright. He represented the Mobile Basketball Officials Association at more than twenty AHSAA state championships and was twice named Southwest District Official of the Year. He received the AHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 2008. A 1960 graduate of Blount High School, Wilmer attended Grambling State University on a baseball scholarship, graduating in 1964. He was inducted into the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame in 2022. Wilmer is married to Helen Sigler and has three children — Linda Colvin, Wilmer Sigler Jr., and Kelvin Sigler — along with nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
David Stephenson
Charles David Stephenson has over four decades of soccer officiating experience and two decades as a middle school coach. Beginning as a recreational official in Florence, he joined the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) in 1985 and the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) in 1987. Following the AHSAA’s sanctioning of soccer in 1991, David served until his retirement in 2022. He was honored as the AHSAA Soccer Official of the Year in 2002 and officiated numerous collegiate and championship matches, including the SEC Championship and Alabama-Auburn rivalry games. Known for his longevity, expertise, and professionalism, David also served as a National Assessor for NISOA and a State and Regional Assessor for USSF. Fellow official Kim Alewine praised him as a “legend” in the Shoals soccer community. David attended Morgan County High School and Lincoln High School in Indiana, before graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Stewart Stephenson
Wesley Stewart Stephenson enjoyed a celebrated officiating career spanning over three decades in basketball. Before officiating, he starred at Decatur High School, leading his team to a state championship in 1970, and continued his athletic career at Athens State College. Stewart registered with the AHSAA in 1977 and officiated at the state championships every year from 1994 until his retirement in 2010. Don Stanford, a fellow Hall of Fame inductee, praised Stewart’s authoritative presence and professionalism on the court. In addition to his high school accomplishments, Stewart officiated for twenty years at the collegiate level, working Junior College, NAIA, and NCAA contests. He was inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Legendary Decatur coach Earl Morris remembered Stewart for his work ethic and sound judgment. Stewart graduated from Decatur High School in 1970. He passed away on July 13, 2018, and is survived by his wife, Donna Gunter Stephenson, their son Wes Stephenson, and three grandchildren.
