Summary

In this special edition of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas engages with football officials Lou Murphy, Joey Shelnutt, and Ken Washington to discuss the heart-stopping incident that occurred during a game, where Joey suffered a heart attack. The conversation explores their personal journeys into officiating, the immediate response to the emergency, the aftermath of recovery, and the support from the officiating community. The episode emphasizes the importance of health awareness and CPR training for officials, as well as the strong bonds formed within the officiating family.

Takeaways

Joey Shelnutt's journey into officiating began through encouragement from a friend.

Lou Murphy started officiating to stay involved in sports as his son played.

Ken Washington's officiating career took off quickly due to mentorship.

The incident on August 22nd was a life-changing moment for Joey Shelnutt.

Lou Murphy acted quickly to perform CPR on Joey during the emergency.

Community support for Joey came from officials across the country, including NFL referees.

Health checks and CPR certification for officials are crucial for safety.

The officiating community is a close-knit family that supports each other.

Joey plans to return to officiating after his recovery.

Lou emphasizes the importance of being proactive about health in officiating.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Heart of Officiating

02:47 Personal Journeys into Officiating

07:32 The Incident: A Life-Threatening Moment

12:56 Recovery and Medical Insights

17:58 The Officiating Community's Response

23:47 Reflections and Future Considerations

27:59 riverside_ed_- take 02 _ sep 25, 2024 001_from_a to zebra (1).mp4