2009 Referee Emeritus Award - Roland Stone

Roland I. (Stoney) Stone
2009 WILBUR H. PECK REFEREE-EMERITUS AWARD

Roland I Stone, affectionately known to all as simply "Stoney", was born on November 18, 1928, and was a native and life-long resident of Coraopolis, Pa., before passing away in April 2009.

Stone graduated from Ellwood City High School, where he was recognized for his many athletic achievements and subsequently offered a full gymnastics scholarship to the Pennsylvania State University, at that time, one of the foremost powers in intercollegiate gymnastics. Stone served five-years in the U.S. Navy. Along the way he met and married his first wife Phyllis. They had two sons together, Mark and Robert.

Stone was a partner in Condle and Stone Electric, a local electronics company. Unbeknownst to most was his ability as an accomplished piano player. In addition to his involvement with volleyball, he was also active in softball, bowling and golf. In 1981 he married his second wife Cathy and they lived in Coraopolis until his passing. He was a gifted storyteller and became everyone's favorite joke teller. His sense of humor and infectious laugh set the tone for after meeting gatherings. In the late 1970s, Stone often was the resident entertainer at the Regional Commissioners' Annual Mid-Year meeting social in Dallas, at the Richardson home of Howard and Pat McChesney.

Stone began his volleyball career in 1953 as a player for the Coraopolis YMCA in a local Church League, and a year later ventured into sanctioned USVBA competition. Since that inauspicious beginning he became a player and coach at both the Regional and National level. By the 1967-68 season, Stone had become a certified USVBA National Referee and was appointed the associate chairman of officials for Region 4 by then Commissioner G. R. "Geep" McDonald, a position he held until the 1970-71 season when he succeeded the legendary Irwin Carroll as Regional Chairman.

Stone's administrative talents became self-evident, and when McDonald relocated to California prior to the 1971-72 season, Commissioner of Regions Bill Baird appointed Stone to succeed him as Commissioner. He served in this capacity through the 1985-86 season. At the 1986 Annual USVBA Meeting, Stone was recognized for his long-time and outstanding service as Commissioner with the conferral of the Dr. Neville E. "Doc" Booth Commissioner's Award. He penned the verse that has been inscribed on all of the "Doc" Booth awards since 1979.

"When asked, I tried; When I tried, I accomplished.
 When I accomplished, Success was my reward.
When recognized by my fellow man, My cup was full."
----- Roland I. Stone, 1979

In his early years as commissioner, Stone involved his family with regional activities and administration. Volunteers were sparse and operating funds limited. He recruited his wife Phyllis to serve as registrar and treasurer for four-years; son Bobby, at age 19, became the youngest person at that time to ever receive a National Referee rating and son Mark became a nationally certified scorekeeper and regionally certified referee.

Stone was among those who were instrumental in organizing the Pennsylvania State High School Volleyball Association and was an active leader in this movement for more than 15-years. Pennsylvania was the first State to conduct a statewide volleyball championship for boys and set the standard for the rest of the nation. This included the development of referees and other officials to conduct the annual games.

In May 1971, the United States AAU conducted its National Seniors' Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. Region 4 was a major partner in the success of this venture. In 1979 Region 4 hosted the USVBA Open National Championships in Dayton. Stone was instrumental in the local leadership that contributed to the success of these events.

In 1974 (West Germany), 1975 (USSR) and 1976 (Republic of China), the USVBA and the 'Eastern Bloc Regions' (Regions1, 2, 3, 4), under the guidance of then-fledgling executive director Al Monaco, sponsored three international tours which had East Coast stops played at Penn State University. Stone was involved with the promotion and conduct of each exhibition within his Region. He served as a referee in all three tours at venues in other Regions.

Stone was one of the founding commissioners that established for a brief period of time, the Eastern Zone Championships among Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4 and eventually included Region 7 until a reorganization of the Regions in 1978. When not hosting the event, he was a valuable member of the officiating team for the championships.

During his tenure, and acting as an agent for the USVBA, Stone was instrumental with the negotiations that led to the USVBA selecting Dayton, Ohio, for the first USA Men's National Training Center. This program, in concert with the women's program started several years earlier, was the beginning of a revolutionary concept for sport in the United States. It began a successful training concept for the years to come, that realized its most successful results 30 years later, at the recent 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing.

As commissioner, Stone remained active in officiating at both the Regional and National level, and assisted his referee's chairman, John Tokash, with the development and certification of referee candidates throughout his 14-year tenure as Commissioner. He was contracted by the State Department to tour military bases in Europe and throughout the State of Alaska to conduct Referee Clinics for military personnel and work with players to improve their skills.

At the Annual Meetings in 1973, Stone was elected to the USVBA Board of Directors. He served on the Board until 1982. In 1976 he was appointed program vice president by President Wil Peck and reappointed by President Don Shondell in 1978. He served in this role until the reorganization in January 1981, leaving a legacy to provide the foundation for the newly created Technical Development Division.

Volleyball is richer because of Roland Stone, and his pioneering contributions during the 1960s and the 1970s. He served as a USA National Volleyball referee from 1967 until his retirement in 1990, a span of 23 years.