COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 4, 2024) – U.S. volleyball referee Joe Campbell was honored as a World ParaVolley Life Member in a ceremony during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The “Life Member” title is the highest honor that World ParaVolley bestows.
Campbell, who serves on the World ParaVolley Board of Directors and as president of ParaVolley Pan-America, has been involved with sitting volleyball since 1989 when he was asked to officiate at the World Championships.
He is one of only two referees in World ParaVolley to be selected to officiate at six Paralympic Games. His first were the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics.
“Honestly, it’s a huge honor,” Campbell said of the Life Member designation. “At the same time, it was never an expectation of mine. If I go back in time, I was a jock growing up. I loved sports. Growing up in the USA, baseball and football were my true loves, especially baseball. I never dreamed that one day I’d get involved with volleyball.”
Campbell began his volleyball career while living in Misawa, Japan in 1979. He played for 12 years, coached for 16 years and has officiated for 35 years.
Campbell said he plans to keep working with World ParaVolley and was grateful for the honor.
“This honor is like a stamp of approval. It lets me know that my colleagues have not only noted my accomplishments, but I guess, I could say it’s a ‘job well done’ remark from them. They appreciate all the effort and work that I’ve put in, and it’s amazing. It’s truly astonishing to be recognized for everything because I definitely didn’t do it for notoriety. I did it for the sport, for the athletes, and the love of the game.”
Previously, World ParaVolley recognized Campbell with awards in 2022 and 2020.
USA Volleyball has honored Campbell at its Hall of Fame. In 2020, he received the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award.