Edmund “Ed” Knetig †
Inducted 2012
Hometown: Corpus Christi
High School: Ray High School
Best Known for: Football Officiating
Nov. 20, 1943–Jan. 27, 2021
After moving from Corpus Christi, Knetig joined the Southwest Football Official Association in the Rio Grande Valley. He served five years as Chapter Secretary and as Chapter President. He also served as State Board of Director for two years. The Texas High School Officiating Association (TASO) honored him with the State Honorary Lifetime membership award in 2008.
Knetig officiated more than 500 varsity games in the Valley and more than 50 varsity and college games in Mexico. While working high school games he worked all position on the field. He formed a crew and worked at almost all the valley stadiums and in Laredo. Knetig worked as referee of state semifinals, quarterfinals, regional and a number of lower level state playoff games.
Knetig worked with high school officials in the Valley by organizing the 3-4-5 Clinic designed to help new and young officials on how to work football games both, sub-varsity and varsity. He also is the Clinic Director of the West Texas Football Officials Clinic in El Paso. That clinic is for high school officials wanting to move to the college officiating ranks.
Knetig has worked in the Southwest Conference, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain West Conference and Big 12 as a Side Judge on the field and as an Instant Replay Official. He has received 11 bowl assignments, the most recent assignment was the 2012 BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala. between SMU and Pittsburgh. While working in the above conferences, He has travelled all over the United States and Hawaii working football. He has worked for schools in all the major college conferences. He continues to work as a replay official assigned to the Big 12 staff.
Knetig was a certified USA Track and Field official for 10 years before retiring from track and field, working for the University of Texas Track Association and officiating the Texas State High School Track and Field meets during that time. He has seen and worked with some of America's top track and field athletics at the high school, college and international levels.