| Overall UK Wins: 12 | Overall UK Losses: 4 | Win % 75 |
Date of Birth: January 11, 1915
Date of Death: January 23, 1991
Hometown: Waukesha, WI
For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.
Obituary - Chicago Tribune (January 25, 1991)
Joseph Conway, 77, Refereed Basketball for Colleges, Pros
by Kenan Heise
Joseph L. Conway, Sr., 77, a retired basketball referee, officiated Big Ten, Missouri Valley, NCAA and National Basketball Association games.
A resident of Johnson Creek, Wis., he died Wednesday in Janesville Hospital.
"He was the prototype of today's referee," said his son, Joseph Jr. "He took charge of the game. he would not tolerate physical encounters early and thus set the tone of the game. My father called several technical fouls on the very famous University of Kentucky coach, Adolph Rupp. And it was a home game. He was known as a firm and in-control official."
Mr. Conway, who had not been a noted athlete, was the recreation director of Oconomowoc, Wis. and refereed local amateur games. One year when a snowstorm kept Big Ten officials from a University of Wisconsin basketball game, he was asked to fill in. This began a 25-year career with that conference.
In the late 1960s, he refereed NBA games for a year.
He also officiated both basketball and football games for the Missouri Valley Conference.
According to his son, Mr. Conway officiated at more games during NCAA finals than any other official. He also gave clinics on refereeing in Japan, Europe and Puerto Rico.
Survivors, besides his son, include three other sons, Craig, Thomas and Robert; three brothers; a sister; and six grandchildren.
Plans for a memorial service are pending.
