JERRY MARKBREIT
NFL

Jerry Markbreit's position as Trade and Barter Manager for the 3M Company was unique in the business world. That position, combined with his experience as one of only 16 National Football League Referees, has given him the background to develop as interesting and worthwhile message for professional groups.

Markbreit has retired from the 3M Company after 38 years. In his position, he daily negotiated and traded millions of dollars of advertising, media time, materials, etc., with businesses throughout the world.

After officiating High School football for nine years, Markbreit became a member of the Big ten Football officiating staff. His most memorable games in the Big Ten include: the 1966 Notre Dame/Michigan State National Championship 10-10 tie, the 1972 Rose Bowl Game between Stanford and Michigan, and six Ohio State/Michigan games, including the 1971 10-7 Michigan victory when Woody Hayes stormed the field in his "first national trade."

Markbreit wrote a weekly football column for the Chicago Sun Times for several years while working college football. In 1973, he wrote The Armchair Referee , published by Doubleday & Company. In 1988, his autobiography entitled Born to Referee was published by William Morrow Company. His most recent book, written with co-author Alan Steinberg, is Last Call: Memoirs of an NFL Referee , published in 1999 by Sports Publishing Inc. He currently writes an Internet column for the Chicago Tribune .

In 1976, Markbreit became a National Football League Line Judge, and in 1977 he was promoted to NFL Referee. His post-season play-off assignments as Head Referee include four Super Bowls and multiple semi-finals. The 1998 season was Markbreit's 23rd and last year in the NFL, as well as his 43rd consecutive season of football officiating. He worked the NFC Championship games in both 1999 and 2000 as a replay official, and is currently head trainer for NFL Referees.