Alumnus, NFL Referee Brad Allen Joins NCHSAA Hall of Fame
Though his journey has led from Lumberton’s ballfields to the NFL spotlight, Brad Allen has never lost sight of where it all began. A proud Robeson County native and UNC Pembroke alumnus, Allen’s rise from teenage umpire to NFL referee was celebrated last week with his induction into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
“I’m truly honored that people felt I was worthy of being included in this distinguished group,” Allen, ’91, said. “It’s a tremendous honor for our family. This moment is not just about me — it represents a lot of sacrifice by many people who ensured education-based athletics in North Carolina have good officials.”
Allen’s officiating career began 40 years ago, when a 15-year-old picked up a mask and called balls and strikes in Little League. That first opportunity — thanks to the late Leon Maynor, a UNCP alumnus who trusted a teenager to do the job — sparked a vocation that has now carried Allen into his 12th season as an NFL referee.
Allen’s climb through the ranks has been less about defining moments than defining people. “If you don’t have strong family support as a game official, you will never make it,” he reflected. “My mom and dad (Greg and Gail Allen), UNCP alumni, drove me to games and encouraged me. Along the way, I was given opportunities because someone believed in me.
Among those who invested in him were mentors like Neil Buie, Delton Chavis, Ted Jackson and Al Riveron, who, alongside Dean Blandino, elevated him directly to referee status in the NFL in 2014. “You don’t do anything for 40 years with any measure of success if you don’t have a whole lot of people who have been guideposts along the way,” Allen said.
Ronnie Chavis, a longtime mentor and friend, has admired Allen’s rise. “This young man has been a jewel,” said Chavis, who introduced Allen at the induction ceremony at the Embassy Suites in Cary.
“To my recollection, he might be the only official to call all three major sports —baseball, basketball and football — at the state championship level,” Chavis said. “He’s worked his way up to being one of the best NFL officials, and the ACC relies on him as a technician to train others. What impresses me most is that he’s so humble. He hasn’t forgotten where he came from. He’s been a marvel for Robeson County and UNC Pembroke.”
Allen has remained rooted in high school sports even while standing under the bright lights of the NFL. After making it to football’s biggest stage, he continued to officiate middle school and high school games when he could –– a testament to his belief that the profession depends on mentorship.
“Without officials, it’s just practice,” he said. “You must have someone there to make sure the rules, codes of conduct and standards of the game are enforced and upheld in a way that speaks of integrity. My drive has always been to provide a level playing field and allow sports to continue positively, particularly at the high school level.”
Now, in his third Hall of Fame, he joined the George Whitfield Hall of Fame and the UNCP Athletics Hall of Fame. Allen said this latest honor would bring him full circle. “UNC Pembroke is part of my DNA,” he said. “My mom and dad met there, my wife (Twilla) and I are both alums and that community's care, character and pride helped build my foundation. This induction represents all the people who have helped, taught, mentored and sacrificed so that this moment could occur.”