At the end of each year, the HFOA selects the most deserving officials for a number of awards. Listed below are descriptions of each award and all previous recipients.
The George Montani Award
Named after HFOA Wall of Honour official George Montani, this award is presented to the most outstanding official each year.
2024: Richard Higgins
2023: Ryan Mickleboro
2022: Pat McCafferty
2021: N/A (Covid)
2020: N/A (Covid)
2019: Pat McCafferty
2018: Kevin Mickleboro
2017: Adam Hinks
2016: Ben Chapdelaine
2015: Colin Sutherland
2014: Fred Cooper
2013: Colin Sutherland
2012: Jeff Day
2011: Pat McCafferty
2010: Marc Cobb
2009: Art Crombie
The Seymour Wilson Award
Named after Canadian Football Hall of Fame and HFOA official Seymour Wilson, this award is presented to an official, community member, group or person who has demonstrated outstanding service to football in the Hamilton area.
2024: Jim Tinson
2023: Danny Brown
2022: Dave Cheeseman
2021: N/A (Covid)
2020: N/A (Covid)
2019: Rob Underhill
2018: Brian Greig
2017: Tom Vallesi
2016: Hamilton Hurricanes
2015: Peter Luvisa
2014: Joe Sardo
2013: Ken McGuire
2012: Ken Crichton
2011: Joe Haggins
2010: Jeff Kott
2009: Frank Gesteszi
2008: Kevin Mickleboro
2007: Jeff Wheaton
2006: Mike Siatras
2005: Jim Harvey
2004: Jim Gamble
2003: Aldo D'Intino
2002: Dan Clark
2001: Doug Trimble
2000: George Knill
1999: Freed Jazvac
1998: George Montani
1997: Art Crombie
1996: David Hutton
1995: Tom Gallagher
1994: John McDonald
1993: Jim Tinson
1992: Steve Bruno
1991: Sam Cino
1990: Bob Krouse
1989: David Braley
1988: Scott & Lori Hinks
1987: Fred Chayka
1986: John Mamuza
1985: Donny Wilson
1984: Dennis Griffin
1983: Floyd Cooper
1982: Mel Cohen
1981: Ernie Salmon
1980: Bill Shephard
1979: Bob Wilson
1978: Alex Kormaniski
1977: Alex Kormaniski
1976: Al Schossler
1975: Al McColman
1974: Bob Sugden
1973: Mike Finn
1972: Mike Finn
The Super Crew Award
Beginning in 2019 after the EMS for Youth Football Award was formally retired, this award is presented to four on-field officials and one timer each year based on their ability to improve other officials' on-field experience through laughter, positivity, knowledge, teaching, and enthusiasm for the game. The inscription on the front of the award is a poem titled "Mr. Referee", written by HFOA Wall of Honour official George Montani.
2024: Jeff Mooney, Jan-Michael Dorsey, Pat McCafferty, Joe Vallesi, Joe Miceli
2023: Richard Higgins, Jeff Day, Pat McCafferty, Joe Vallesi, Joe Monaco, Colin Sutherland
2022: Adam Hinks, Ben Chapdelaine, Pat McCafferty, Joe Vallesi, Jim Tinson
2021: N/A (Covid)
2020: N/A (Covid)
2019: Colin Sutherland, Taylor Mickleboro, Pat McCafferty, Rob O'Shea, Jim Tinson
Retired Awards
The EMS Award for Minor Football
Sponsored by the EMS, this award was presented to an official who exemplified the qualities of an outstanding minor football official before it was formally retired in 2018. The inscription on the front of the award is a poem titled "Mr. Referee", written by HFOA Wall of Honour official George Montani. The trophy for this award has since been repurposed for the Super Crew Award.
2017: Jeff Mooney
2016: Richard Higgins
2015: Paul Vespa
2014: Al McColman
2013: Brian Greig
2012: Bill Brown
2011: Dennis Taylor
2010: Joe Miceli
2009: Pat McCafferty
2008: Bob Avolio
2007: Jim Tinson
2006: Pat Stones
2005: Charles Pomerleau
2004: Mario Couture
2003: Paul Griffin
2002: Art Crombie
2001: Alex Komarniski
2000: Mitchell Price
1999: Joe Monaco
1998: Mark Ribbons
The Bill Shephard Memorial Award
Named after former HFOA official Bill Shephard, this award was presented to the rookie of the year each year before it was formally retired in 2015.
2014: Richard Higgins
2013: Ben Chapdelaine
2012: Sean Doyle
2011: Ethan Greig
2010: Ryan Mickleboro
2009: Len Haley
2008: Andrew Wilkinson
2007: Tom Peddle
2006: Brenden McColman
2005: Ed Melo
2004: Mark Kokoski
2003: Tom Utter
2002: Marc Cobb
2001: Scott Laird
2000: Adam Hinks
1999: Brian Avolio
1998: Gord Cocks
1997: Pat Stones
1996: Brett Turnbull
1995: Fred Cooper
1994: Paul Griffin Jr.
1993: Dave Reid
1992: George Groot
1991: Mark Ribbins
1990: Jeff Wheaton
1989: Paul Vespa
1988: Pat McCafferty
1987: Mario Couture
1986: Kevin Mickleboro
1985: Louie DiDiodato
1984: Bill Ingleby
1983: Brian Greig
1982: George Montani
The Tony Schlosser Memorial Award
Named after former HFOA official Tony Schlosser, this award was presented to the most improved official each year before it was formally retired in 2023.
2022: Rob O'Shea
2021: N/A (Covid)
2020: N/A (Covid)
2019: Matt McAllister
2018: Richard Higgins
2017: Trevor Fuciarelli
2016: Taylor Mickleboro
2015: Ben Chapdelaine
2014: Jason Shaw
2013: Ryan Mickleboro
2012: Joe Vallesi
2011: Joe Miceli
2010: Kevin Doyle
2009: Jeff Mooney
2008: Ken Phillips
2007: Marc Cobb
2006: Jeff Day
2005: Julian DiBattista
2004: Adam Hinks
2003: John Edwards
2002: Pat Stones
2001: Adelmo Monaco
2000: Brian Greig
1999: John Pringle
1998: Robert Avolio
1997: Pat McCafferty
1996: Mark Ribbins
1995: Jason Pegg
1994: Pat McCafferty
1993: Bob Malkowski
1992: Colin Sutherland
1991: Paul Griffin
1990: Willie Hutton
1989: Tom Vallesi
1988: Brian Root
1987: John Berryman
1986: Frank Smith
1985: Mike Mulligan
1984: Tom Oliphant
1983: Andy Nizielski
1982: Doug Beemer
1981: David Hutton
1980: Wayne Deumo
1979: Scott Hinks
1978: Bob Boychuck
HFOA Active Members Years of Service
55 Years:
Alex Komarniski
Al McColman
35 Years:
Bob Avolio
Pat McCafferty
Kevin Mickleboro
Joe Monaco
Charles Pomerleau
Colin Sutherland
Tom Vallesi
50 Years:
Jim Tinson
30 Years:
Bill Brown
Fred Cooper
Adelmo Monaco
45 Years:
David Hutton
Scott Hinks
Jeff Day
25 Years:
Adam Hinks
Rod Comeau
Brian McLaughlin
40 Years:
Brian Greig
Joe Miceli
20 Years:
Marc Cobb