Ron Koppenhaver
If there was a District 5 championship game in
football, basketball, and softball in the 1990s
through the 2010s, there was a very good chance
that Bedford’s Ron Koppenhaver was an official at
the game.
He was an official for over 60 district championship games and is just one of a select few that has been an official at a PIAA championship in
3 different sports with 2 in football, 1 in basketball,
and 1 in softball.
He started umpiring at the age of 13 near Tower
City, where he grew up. Since then, he estimates
that he had officiated approximately 6,000 sporting events.
Koppenhaver moved to Bedford in 1983 and former Bedford head football coach Dean McGee talked with Koppenhaver.
“He is the one that talked me into doing basketball and football,” Koppenhaver said.
From there, he went on to officiate many of the games in the area.
He did 37 continuous years of basketball and football, and he was the District 5 Rules Interpreter for 30 years. He did 25 basketball championships as well as 35 football championship games.
On top of the PIAA, he was also an area leader in softball. He was the ASA District Deputy
Commissioner and the USSSA Deputy Director for South Central Pennsylvania.
Koppenhaver said that he looked to McGee, athletic directors, and coaches for the inspiration.
“Dean told me that that each call was only going to be 50% right according to the crowd, but you need to be 80% crazy to do this,” Koppenhaver said.
He lives in Bedford and has a daughter, Kristen, with 3 grandchildren: Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney.
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football, basketball, and softball in the 1990s
through the 2010s, there was a very good chance
that Bedford’s Ron Koppenhaver was an official at
the game.
He was an official for over 60 district championship games and is just one of a select few that has been an official at a PIAA championship in
3 different sports with 2 in football, 1 in basketball,
and 1 in softball.
He started umpiring at the age of 13 near Tower
City, where he grew up. Since then, he estimates
that he had officiated approximately 6,000 sporting events.
Koppenhaver moved to Bedford in 1983 and former Bedford head football coach Dean McGee talked with Koppenhaver.
“He is the one that talked me into doing basketball and football,” Koppenhaver said.
From there, he went on to officiate many of the games in the area.
He did 37 continuous years of basketball and football, and he was the District 5 Rules Interpreter for 30 years. He did 25 basketball championships as well as 35 football championship games.
On top of the PIAA, he was also an area leader in softball. He was the ASA District Deputy
Commissioner and the USSSA Deputy Director for South Central Pennsylvania.
Koppenhaver said that he looked to McGee, athletic directors, and coaches for the inspiration.
“Dean told me that that each call was only going to be 50% right according to the crowd, but you need to be 80% crazy to do this,” Koppenhaver said.
He lives in Bedford and has a daughter, Kristen, with 3 grandchildren: Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney.
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Class of 2023
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania