The Hoptown-Christian County high school football rivalry has been around for 64 years and the teams have played each other 59 times over that span.
One local referee has been a part of most of those games and will again be on the field tonight for the final Hoptown-County football game at the Stadium of Champions. Chuck Henderson is in his 57th year of officiating high school football.
The 1969 graduate of Hopkinsville High School got his start during his first year at Hopkinsville Community College when he took a PE course taught by the late Eldridge Rogers.
In that class, Rogers required the students to get certified as KHSAA football, baseball, and basketball officials. As a 19-year-old, Henderson began officiating. While he gave up the baseball and basketball jobs, he has continued officiating the game he loves.
And during the last 57 years, he has seen many changes. When he started, flags were red and officials had to tie rings and other objects into them to make them fly. But the biggest change came in the number of officials used in a game.
Henderson said he also has seen a lot of changes to the game as well.
Henderson, who retired from the Kentucky New Era after 42 years as its President and General Manager, has been primarily a back judge for the last 10-12 years. He joked and said it gives him extra time to keep up with the quicker players.
Henderson credits good health and a love of the game for allowing him to continue officiating.
During his time as an official, Henderson has had many of the Hoptown-County games. In fact, he has been a part of many historical matchups between the schools.
Henderson has been able to call the 1990 Class 4-A state championship game between Louisville Trinity and Warren Central. He also has worked 11 semifinal games, 23 regional finals, and 31 quarterfinals.
Football has been a part of Henderson’s life since he was a youngster. It is so important to him that he proposed to his wife, Cathy, under the goalposts at the old Hopkinsville High School practice football field.
Henderson has seen a lot over the years, but he isn’t ready to retire. In fact, he’s hoping to be around next year to officiate the Christian County Tigers.
As for a prediction on tonight’s game, Henderson said records don’t matter when it comes to the Tigers vs. the Colonels. But he promises the officiating will be at its best.
Photo provided