NORFOLK, Va. – Sitting stoically at a table along the baseline and wearing a white baseball hat inside the Norfolk Scope Arena, Larry Rose smiled and reflected on his life's work.
Rose is retiring from his role as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials after a distinguished career in which he reached the pinnacle of his profession, blazed trails and opened doors for others.
“I am going to miss it because I love it,” Rose said when asked about retirement during halftime of the Howard-Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball semifinal game. “I feel like I could go on for years, but my time has come. Officiating was my heart. Working with the MEAC made me feel blessed and good and like they loved what I was doing and therefore got involved and kept me going.”
Instead of using the world as a place to live, Rose used it as a giant canvas to create change, open minds and breakthrough barriers.
“I would open doors for people because we don't get doors opened for us too much,” Rose said. “I wanted to open doors so people can say, 'Hey, that guy looked out for us.' Plus, it was the right thing to do.”
Rose officiated for 36 years, but that's only part of the story.
He advocated for Black officials and was determined to ensure they were always represented.
“I don't think he recognized it in the beginning, but after a certain period in life, he came to realize he was a trailblazer not because he was all that great, but because the Lord used him to be the first in many areas for the Black race,” Rose's wife of 32 years, Yvonne Rose, said. “The one thing I loved about Larry was as he moved up; he was concerned about bringing others up.
“In a time where we are concerned that Black officials are being phased out, he's still concerned keeping the representation of our guys and our race out there. The biggest concern he has is who is going to speak up for them.”
The first African-American to officiate the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament Championship, Rose also officiated 19 straight NCAA Tournaments (1989-2007). Rose has worked in 16 Sweet Sixteens, 16 Elite Eights and six Final Fours (1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005).
Rose was succinct when asked about his reaction to working on his first Final Four.
“Wow,” Rose said. “Who thought of me enough to put me in the Final Four? I loved them. Being able to work a Final Four as an official means that you represented your conference well.”
Of course, his initial Final Four assignment wasn't just any game.
It was Duke-UNLV. One of the most iconic games in NCAA Tournament history was when the Blue Devils upset the undefeated Runnin' Rebels en route to winning their first national championship in Indianapolis. It’s considered one of the top 10 Final Four games in history.
Aside from officiating the biggest games in the sport, Rose worked Michael Jordan's fantasy camp in Las Vegas and volunteered at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) for 28 years. Many of the legendary men's basketball coaches, from the late Dean Smith to the late John Thompson to Mike Krzyzewski to Roy Williams, admire Rose as a person and for the job he did.
Reporters also respected Rose. Following a halftime recognition during the Howard-Norfolk State men’s championship game, veteran Washington Post writer and New York Times bestselling author John Feinstein walked over to Rose and the two shared a long friendly embrace and traded stories.
“He’s a guy who worked a lot of championship games in a lot of leagues because he was so well respected,” Feinstein said. “He was a go-to ref for me in that I could always go talk to him after a game and he never felt threatened by a reporter because he knew he was doing a good job. He was always open about things. He’s funny and always had a good sense of humor. He always understood from a players’ point of view what made a game important.”
MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills couldn’t stop smiling when she was asked about Rose’s impact. Stills has worked at the MEAC office for 20 years.
“He’s amazing and very good at his craft,” Stills said. “He’s somebody who really communicates with the coaches. If you think an official didn’t do something, a coach could call Larry and walk them through it. He’s been such a great supporter. He’s like family and you look forward to seeing him because it brings a smile to your face.”
In an era where many of the long-time coaches are retiring, it seems appropriate that Rose is joining them. What's funny is Rose never imagined he'd develop into one of the sport's most respected and impactful officials.
“No, no, no,” Rose said. “I just got into officiating, fell in love with it and rolled with the punches. Next thing I knew, I was in Final Fours and everything.”
Rose's wife has been his rock and support through all the endless travel and long evenings. She grew up surrounded by sports enthusiasts.
“My father, brother, sisters, all of us, we were involved in all sports,” Yvonne said. “My dad loved sports, so it was a natural part of me to support him in his dreams. My dream was to have a good family and raise good kids who are productive in society and are not only just loved by us but by others too.
“I thank God because what Larry wanted to do was something I did like, and the kids enjoyed. So, we were all a team to make him the best he could be while he was out there. I am happy that at this season in his life that he's thinking about coming home. My bucket list is still full of things I want us to do together. I am looking forward to it.”
A 1968 graduate of Franklin's all-black Hayden High, Rose played football and baseball at Hampton University. By 1974, two years after graduating from Hampton, Rose worked in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Before coming to Division I, Rose worked at the Division II level, officiating in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) from 1976-92. In 1979, he began officiating in the CIAA Tournament. Two years later, he worked the first of 11 consecutive CIAA finals (1981-92).
Rose followed his time at the CIAA officiating in two MEAC Tournaments (1992-93) before returning to the CIAA to become the league's Supervisor of Officials (1993-94).
Before working in Division II, Rose officiated at the high school level (1969-75). In 1976, Rose began a lengthy affiliation with the Virginia High School League (1976-88). While in the league, Rose officiated in multiple VHSL Tournaments (1979-86) and three VHSL State Finals in 1980, 1982, and 1983.
Rose has officiated in 10 NCAA Division I conferences, consisting of the ACC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big XII, Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), Conference USA, MEAC, SEC, Southern and Sun Belt. In seven of those conferences (ACC, A-10, CAA, C-USA, MEAC, Southern, and Sun Belt), Rose has officiated in 49 conference tournaments, including 27 tournament finals.
In 2003, Rose was awarded the Naismith Award, an accolade given to the best collegiate men's basketball official of the year.
Yet, while he's enjoyed an entire career filled with memories and accolades, Rose will miss the energy of being in the arena, whether on the floor as a referee or behind the scenes making a difference with his passion.
“This is all I know, and what I wanted to do is be here,” Rose said. “Time goes by, and things change. Officiating is tough; you must put everything into it and get involved. I know I worked hard for years to make it. Without my wife, none of this would be possible. She's been there for everything. I thank God for the opportunity.”
Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Hall of Fame, Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by CSC with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA).