By John RittenhouseThanks to the years of service turned in by a Luverne man, the Minnesota State High School League was forced to do some rethinking.When the directors of the MSHSL decided to recognize registered officials for their years of service 10 years ago, they set some guidelines.Awards would be presented to officials who reached the milestones of 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of service.The guidelines established by the MSHSL seemed reasonable until this year, when Luverne’s Jake Boomgaarden completed his 60th year of service as a registered official."When we set up the recognition program for officials, we developed awards for 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of service, but not 60," said MSHSL Associate Director Kevin Merkle, in a letter addressed to Boomgaarden."We decided that the award for this significant accomplishment will be a ring," the letter continued.Boomgaarden is unsure when he will receive his service ring, but he said it will be treasured when it arrives. His officiating tenure in Minnesota has spanned from 1945-2005, and it will continue for at least one more year.Boomgaarden was introduced to the world of officiating when he was serving in the Air Force during World War II.Based in Cambridge, England, his commanding officer learned Boomgaarden had played football in the past. When the officer asked Jake if he wanted to officiate with him, the Luverne man accepted the offer."I ended up liking it and thought it might be something I would like to do when I left the Air Force," Boomgaarden said."I requested some rule books from the state (MSHSL) when I still was in Cambridge, and they sent them to me so I could study them overseas."When his stint with the Air Force was complete, the Magnolia High School graduate met the criteria to begin his officiating career after returning to Minnesota.He worked basketball, football and baseball games at the high school and college levels, and he spent his summers umpiring softball for the American Softball Association.When his knees started to bother him later on, Boomgaarden decided to give up officiating football and basketball events.He still works baseball, softball and volleyball games in the states of Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota."I do it because I like to do it. I like working with the kids," Boomgaarden said.Jake said he requested the MSHSL put the logos of basketball, football and baseball on his recognition.Those were some of the sports he worked the longest, not the ones he liked the best."All the sports I’ve officiated are the best ones as far as I’m concerned," Boomgaarden said."It’s been a good, long trip. I’ve put on many, many miles on the roads and highways over the years. I’ve even worn out a couple of cars. I have enjoyed it."His officiating tenure is not over yet, but his wife of 62 years (Evelyn) thinks it might be time for her husband to give it up."I have a schedule for this coming year, but my wife says I have to quit after next year. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but you probably know who will win this discussion," Boomgaarden said.
