Ray Brooks, long time Football and Basketball official and AOA mainstay passed away Friday, January 17th in Florida at age 94. He held various office positions in both AOA divisions and on the Board of Directors.Ray will be waked at Bormann Funeral Home 1600 Chicago Avenue in Melrose Park, IL on Jan.23rd between 3pm – 9pm. Funeral mass will be Friday @ 10am at Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park located at 819 N. 16th Avenue. A celebration of Ray’s life will follow immediately at Tom’s Steak House located at 1901 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160.
When the IHSA first started the football playoffs in 1974, with 6 classes, Ray worked the 4A game. He was one of the first AOA football members to work state playoffs. He also worked in the 5A in 1980, and the 5A in 1982.
Ray worked the basketball state Series in 1967, 1968, and worked the AA final game in 1973. During the 1980’s Ray served as the basketball interpreter at AOA meetings.
In 1984 Ray Brooks, Al Scheel, Barry Mano were featured in Referee Magazine. In 1989 Ray received the Abe Glick award and in 2007 was elected to the AOA Hall of Fame.