The Los Angeles Football Officials Association (LAFOA) brought together more than 130 officials, family members and supporters for its annual dinner at the Los Angeles Police Academy—an evening that blended humor, history and heartfelt recognition of those who make the game possible.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Los Angeles Football Officials Association (LAFOA) brought together more than 130 officials, family members and supporters for its annual dinner at the Los Angeles Police Academy—an evening that blended humor, history and heartfelt recognition of those who make the game possible.
Life With an Official
One of the night’s most relatable moments came from Shavon Cage, who offered a glimpse into life married to veteran football official Tim Cage.
“In our living room we have a 50-inch TV, a 55-inch TV and a 75-inch TV—and that’s just the living room,” she told the audience, drawing laughter. “He has all three on at the same time, and he’s critical of every referee call.”
Tim Cage, a longtime LAFOA member with more than 20 years of officiating experience, sees details most fans miss. His dedication has earned national recognition, including being one of three LAFOA officials featured on the cover of Referee Magazine in 2024.
Cage’s love of sports extends beyond football. “We had to get married between the last week of July and the second-to-last week of August,” Shavon said. “Those were our only options—baseball was ending and football was starting.” An outreach coordinator in Los Angeles, she spoke candidly about the sacrifices and pride shared by families of officials.
A Legacy More Than a Century Old
Founded in 1911, the LAFOA has served Southern California for more than a century, providing officials for youth leagues, high school programs, college conferences and the NFL. Its members have worked games across the Pac-10, Pac-8, Mountain West, Big Ten, Big 12 and beyond.
Notable alumni include Jim Tunney, Gordon Weisenberger Sr., Carver Shannon and Chad Brown—names that helped establish LAFOA’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier officiating organizations.
Community Support and Sponsorship
This year’s event was sponsored by Jacob Emrani, widely known as “Call Jacob,” a prominent personal injury attorney and passionate supporter of Los Angeles sports. Emrani is a familiar presence at Lakers and Rams games, on ESPN LA radio, and through sponsorships with teams like LAFC.
Often described as a “super Lakers fan,” Emrani regularly engages fans through ticket and gear promotions, reflecting his deep ties to the city’s sports culture.
Honoring Excellence Behind the Lens
The association also recognized Sara Medina for her outstanding photography work documenting officials and athletes throughout Southern California.
Medina began photographing games when her husband, Steve Medina, was named head coach at Legacy High School. “I had to figure it out,” she said. “I wanted to do a good job.”
After Steve passed away in 2023 due to complications from diabetes, Medina continued capturing moments from soccer and softball games, building a reputation that spread across the region. Her work includes youth, high school, college and professional events at venues such as the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.
Her portfolio features officials at every level, NASCAR events, WNBA games, Clippers contests and major community gatherings. She has been published in outlets including the California Crusader and the Los Angeles Observer, and is known for a widely praised photo of veteran official Gordon Weisenberger Jr. alongside LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho before the Garfield–Roosevelt football game at SoFi Stadium, which drew more than 20,000 fans.
Voices From the Field
Guest speaker Frank Villar, a longtime Pac-12 official now working in the Big Ten, shared his journey from baseball player at Cal State LA to college football officiating. Mentored by Tony Corrente, Villar has officiated multiple bowl games and two national championship contests.
“It was sad to see the Pac-12 dissolve,” Villar said. “For years, that was the thing we all grew up with, and suddenly it was gone.”
Keynote speaker Chuck Stewart highlighted a career that began in Pop Warner football and culminated in 20-plus years in the NFL, including assignments in 11 playoff games, a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl LI in 2017 as a replay official.
“There would be nights we’d arrive at LAX at 1 or 2 in the morning from Atlanta or New York,” Stewart recalled. “Then I’d be up at six, getting ready to head to work.”
Investing in the Future
LAFOA also celebrated growth within its ranks, welcoming 53 new officials this year—the largest incoming class in more than 30 years. A weekly in-season development program helped accelerate training and preparedness.
First-year official Vicente Zepeda stood out for his hustle, rules knowledge and command of the game, earning an assignment to the Division I title game between Marquez and South Gate at Southwest College. He was later named LAFOA Rookie of the Year.
First-year instructors Anthony Britt and Tim Cage praised the class’s progress, underscoring LAFOA’s continued commitment to excellence on and off the field.