Greg Willard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1958-11-05)November 5, 1958 Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 2013(2013-04-01) (aged 54) |
| Education | Long Beach State,Orange Coast College |
| Occupation | Referee (NBA) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
James Greg Willard (November 5, 1958 – April 1, 2013) was an American professionalbasketballreferee in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) since 1988 and wore the uniform number 57. Willard officiated 1,515 regular season, 134 playoff, and threeNBA Finals games.[1]
While attendingLong Beach State University, Willard officiated football as a member of the Orange County Football Officials Association and worked as a high school basketball official before advancing to theContinental Basketball Association where he spent four years. Willard also spent four years officiating basketball in college'sPCAA (now Big West) andPac-10 (now Pac-12) conferences. Willard earned his Associate of Arts degree fromOrange Coast College.[2]
As theNBA moved from a referee alignment of utilizing two-person officiating crews to that of a three-person crew in 1988, the League recruited top college and CBA officials to fill the new vacancies created by the officiating department's expansion, including Willard. The League previously experimented with three person mechanics during the1978–79 NBA season when officials went on strike in protest of the move.[3] Willard officiated his 1,500th career regular season game during the2011–12 NBA season.[1]
Since joining the NBA, Willard remained active with the Orange County Football Officials Associations as well as the Musical Youth Artist Repertory Theatre. He was a married father of three and was active in coaching local youth sports leagues. Willard resided inHuntington Beach, California.
After working 10 games during the2012 NBA Playoffs, Willard withdrew from his June 6, 2012 assignment, Game 6 of theWestern Conference Finals between theSan Antonio Spurs andOklahoma City Thunder, after being diagnosed as havingpancreatic cancer.[4][5] It was his last assignment of the 2011–12 season. NBA officials working the2012 NBA Finals wore a #57 patch on their jerseys to recognize Willard.[6]
Willard worked one game during the 2012–13 pre-season, aUtah Jazz vs.Los Angeles Lakers contest at theHonda Center inAnaheim, California. Willard took a leave of absence during the 2012–13 season in order to continue receiving treatment.[7]
On October 20, 2012, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network ("PCAN") selected Willard as its Spirit of Hope Award recipient for displaying "tremendous courage and fortitude in coping with pancreatic cancer" and inspiring others to do the same. In honor of PCAN and Willard, NBA referees wore purpleawareness bracelets during the 2012–13 NBA season.[8] Additionally, Willard was named honoree of the March 24, 2013 event "Cheers to a Cure" with proceeds benefiting PCAN and cancer research endeavors.[9]
Willard died on April 1, 2013, from pancreatic cancer.[10] NBA officials wore a #57 patch on their jerseys for the remainder of the 2012–13 season in his honor.[11]