Staff report
Salisburyís Rodney Callaway was honored last week by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Callaway received the Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his long service as a football official.
ěThis ranks among the finest awards Iíve ever received,î Callaway said.
Callaway graduated from Boyden High in 1951. The end was a four-year letter-winner, a two-time all-conference pick and a member of the All-State team.
His claims to fame as a player include being part of the 1949 Boyden team that stunned Charlotte Central in the first game played under the lights at the stadium thatís now known as Ludwig Stadium, and he caught the touchdown pass that led to a monumental homecoming victory against R.J. Reynolds.
ěYes, I did wear a leather helmet, and my excuse for the way I look today is we had no face masks,î Callaway said.î
Callaway played as a freshman at South Carolina before a broken arm and a letter from Uncle Sam interrupted his career. He entered the Air Force and served in the Korean conflict. As a reserve, he was called to duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Heís been a plumber and heating specialist for 55 years and has been a football official since 1968.
He worked on the field for 20 years, mostly as the umpire. He worked 10 playoff games, a state championship game and five Concord-A.L. Brown matchups.
A clinic leader for 32 years, heís been a supervisor of officials since 1989 and continues in that role.
As a civic leader, heís been the president of the Jaycees and served 40 years with the Holiday Caravan Christmas parade.