Don Hakes, a 22-year NFL official and three-time Super Bowl field judge and back judge, died on April 1, 2021 at the age of 87.
The year 2021 got off to a rocky start when retired NFL officials Ron Botchan, Bob Boylston and Fred Wyant passed away in the first quarter of the new year.
Hakes and Jerry Markbreit have officiated together for over 40 years, starting in high school and going through college and the pros. They began officiating together in the 1950s and formed a team with two other high school officials who were also going to officiate in the Big Ten. They also took over future AFL and NFL official Cal Lepore. Needless to say, if this team showed up to a high school game, it would be the best referee game these kids have ever had.
A graduate of Bradley University, Hakes worked his way up the referee ranks to the Big Ten conference. His last posting was January 1, 1977, Rose Bowl. The NFL hired Hakes to the NFL for the 1977 season as a field judge (now called a return judge). He wore the number 96 for most of his career. He worked in teams led by Jim Tunney, Bob Fredric, Red Cashion, Gerry Austin and his former high school partner, Jerry Markbreit.
Hakes stood out as a strong rulers who had good judgment and made his presence felt in high school. His curly red hair and distinctive features made him a well-known non-arbiter in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
On the court, Hakes played a total of 21 playoff games during his 22-year career: five wild cards, six divisions, seven conference championship games and Super Bowls XVI, XXX and XXXIII. Super Bowl XXXIII was his retirement game. The 14-year span between Super Bowl assignments was a record. Jeff Bergman currently holds the record between Super Bowl assignments at 22.
Merlus was part of one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen umpired on October 17, 1994, between the Broncos and the Chiefs on Monday night football.
Off the Field Hakes was an educator and dean of students at Thornton Fractional North High School in the southern suburbs of Chicago.
The hake also refereed small college basketball games, including a few games at Wheaton College when I was a student there. I broadcast Wheaton basketball games for the student radio station at the time, and I was able to meet Hakes once after a game as he was coming out of the gym. The following season he was working on a Thursday night game at Wheaton. The Super Bowl was Sunday. He was standing near my broadcast position watching the pre-game warm-ups. I called him and asked him if he “worked on Sundays”. Hakes didn’t respond properly to any comments off the field (it was worth it), and the game went off without a hitch. I lit Super Bowl XXX that Sunday, and sure enough, Hakes was working the game!
Our condolences to all who knew and loved Hakes. The text of his obituary appears below.
Donald E. Hakes, 1933-2021
Longtime South Side of Chicago resident Donald E. Hakes, 87, died in his sleep Thursday, April 1, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. Donald was born May 10, 1933 to the late Edgar and Marjory (Church) Hakes, in Chicago, IL.
Don will be remembered by the community as the Dean of Students for many years at Thornton Fractional North Highschool in Calumet City, IL. He was also an NFL official for 22 years and officiated at Super Bowls XVI, XXX and XXXIII.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of West Resthaven Funeral Home in Glendale, AZ and Kuiper Funeral Home in Highland, IN.
A public visitation by Donald will be held on Friday April 9, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Road, Highland, IN 46322. A funeral service will be held on Saturday April 10. , 2021 at 11:30 am, at the Kuiper Funeral Home followed by a funeral at the Assumption Catholic Cemetery, 19500 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Glenwood, IL 60425.
In order to protect each other and the community, please practice wearing a mask or face mask when going to the funeral home or cemetery.
Good memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared on www.KuiperFH.com for the Hakes family.