Paul M. Swaffield (1981) - Hall of Fame - Brown University Athletics

Paul M. Swaffield

Induction:
1981
Class:
1916

Paul M. Swaffield '16
Sport: Special
Year Inducted: 1981

Paul M. Swaffield ’16 spent more than thirty years watching some of the best football games in the East while earning a reputation as one of the finest collegiate football officials of all time. He once estimated that he worked 300-plus games between 1922 and 1952, including Army-Navy, Yale-Harvard, and Boston College-Holy Cross. At the Army-Navy game in 1950, referee Swaffield walked the two captains to the presidential box, where President Harry Truman tossed the coin. The President also handed Swaffield a silver dollar that day. This was an ironic twist in that Swaffield had for many years made a practice of giving a silver dollar to the captain who won the toss of the coin. Swaffield worked a number of games as an Eastern representative and drew New Year’s Day Assignments at both the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl. Although he was generally recognized as one of the most competent officials in the nation, Swaffield refused to work in the National Football League. At the same time, he insisted that he be allowed to work one high school game a year, “just to keep in touch with the youngsters.” After his retirement in 1952, Paul served as an observer of the Eastern Intercollegiate Football Association. He was also president of the Eastern Football Officials. Paul was the first recipient of the George Carens Award for contributions to New England athletics. He was in great demand as a public speaker both before and after his retirement in 1959 as manager of advertising for B.F. Goodrich Footwear and Flooring Company in Boston. Paul died in Alton, N.H., on April 20, 1964.