| Overall UK Wins: 11 | Overall UK Losses: 4 | Win % 73.3 |
Date of Birth: April 3, 1910
Date of Death: December 20, 1981
Hometown: Sodus, MI
For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.
Obituary - Saint Joseph (MI) Herald-Palladium (December 22, 1981)
Rites Tomorrow for Jim Enight
by Al Arend (Staff Sports Writer)
James Enright, a native of Sodus, and a widely known author and sports figure in the Midwest, has died at the age of 71.
Mr. Enright, a graduate of Eau Claire High School and former sports editor of The Benton Harbor News-Palladium, went on to become famous as a Chicago sports writer, author and basketball official.
He was enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Mass., on April 30, 1979, in recognition of his colorful officiating career that spanned some 35 years.
Mr. Enright died late Sunday night in Chicago's Michael Reese Hospital of kidney failure, following an extended illness.
As an official, he worked games in the nation's leading conferences, especially the Big Ten, NCAA tournaments, the NBA, AAU and international competition.
He hung up his whistle in 1965, leaving behind vivid memories of the foghorn voice and flamboyant gestures that put his personal stamp on each game he refereed.
That same voice that coaches never challenged will also be remembered across the friendly confines of Wrigley Field - one of his old sports writing beats - where he was field announcer for the Chicago Cubs.
It was over a half century ago that a young Jim Enright was hired to referee a grade school game in St. Joseph because the scheduled official got stuck in a snow bank on his way to the game.
Mr. Enright recalled on a visit to Southwestern Michigan several months prior to his enshrinement in basketball's Hall of Fame that first game he officiated between two Lutheran grade schools.
He told The Herald-Palladium at that time, "Bob Ludwig, the St. Joe coach, called me because the referee he had coming from Niles got his car stuck in a snow bank at Berrien Springs. I had to borrow shoes, a whistle and a shirt- the only thing I had was my own trousers.
"For that 24-minute game I was paid $5, which at that time was a hell of a lot money because I was only making $15 a week at The News-Palladium."
Mr. Enright's first college game was in 1936 between Michigan State and Kalamazoo College at East Lansing, and Lyman Frimodig, the MSU business manager, doubled the standard non-conference fee of $35 to allow for Mr. Enright's travel expenses.
"My father was with me in the dressing room at that time and I thought he was going to faint." Mr. Enright recalled two years ago. "You just didn't have $70 in those days. As we left in the car, he said one thing: 'I hope it always comes this easy for you.'"
Mr. Enright refereed the NCAA championship game in 1954, when LaSalle beat Bradley at Kansas City 92-76. Most of Mr. Enright's officiating was in the Big Ten, Big Eight and Missouri Valley conferences. His final game was in 1965 between Ohio State and Indiana, a game that saw Indiana blow a big lead and lose by three points.
"After the game, Branch McCracken (the Indiana coach) came to our dressing room and told me I couldn't quit, that they needed me," Mr. Enright had recalled. "Listen, when I put you on the free throw line 10 times in the last few minutes and you make only three and lose the game by three. I can't do any more for you."
Mr. Enright started his sports writing career with The News-Palladium in 1928 and was sports editor until 1937 when he moved to Chicago to take a job with the Evening American. He remained with that publication through changes in name and ownership until Sept. 13, 1974, when Chicago Today "ran out of tomorrows," as he once said.
He was also past president of the United State Basketball Writers Association.
Mr. Enright also authored eight sports books, his latest on DePaul University basketball coach Ray Meyer, who was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame with Mr. Enright.
But probably Mr. Enright's best known writing effort is "Ernie Banks, Mister Cub."
When inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame, one of a handful of officials to be accorded such an honor, Mr. Enright said: "I really can't tell you how much this means to me. The one thing I was blessed with was the ability to referee a basketball game." Others obviously agreed, including retired UCLA coach John Wooden, who once said of Mr. Enright "No official ever attained and maintained better rapport with players, coaches and fans than Enright."
Mr. Enright is survived by his wife, Helen, a daughter Mrs. Jeffery (Lenna) Friedlieb, a sister Mrs. Joan Westerfield, and one grandchild.
Private internment services for Mr. Enright will be held following a 10:30 a.m. (Chicago time) mass Wednesday at St. Tartissus Church, 6020 West Ardmore, Chicago.
Visitation is slated for today from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Donnellan - Fitzgerald - Franklin Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, Ill.
