Jack Childress is pictured as a member of the 1968 Sunkist All-America team.
Mainly because there are so many.
He’s been a standout high school and college football player as well as a highly respected high school and collegiate football official, presiding over numerous high-profile matchups.
But put all of Childress’ accomplishments together and one thing is certain; few are more deserving of such an honor as to be inducted into Surry County’s all-time sports annals.
Childress graduated from Mount Airy in 1969 with a long list of high school athletic achievements.
During his time as a Granite Bear, Childress was voted all-county and all-conference three times, all state in his senior season and was co-captain of the Bear’s 1968 3A State Championship team.
He was named a Sunkist All-America, was selected to the 1968 Shrine Bowl team and the 1969 East-West all-star football team, not to mention receiving varsity letters in basketball (one), wrestling (two) and baseball (three).
After leaving Mount Airy, Childress received a full football scholarship to Duke University, where he lettered all four years and was a honorary co-captain of the freshman team.
Childress’ freshman class is considered one of the finest in school history, with five other high school All-American’s joining him in Durham in 1969.
Childress was enshrined in the Greater Mount Airy Sports Hall of Fame last April. Prior to that ceremony, he said his time in Mount Airy prepared him for his trials during college and afterward.
“Coming from Mount Airy we didn’t back off in football and we didn’t back of anybody in football at Duke,” he said. “Mount Airy has always had excellent scholastics and athletics and I think it prepared me very well.”
Today, Childress calls Greenwood, S.C., home and spends his business time as founder, co-owner and chief operating officer of Loom Craft Inc. located in Belton, S.C., a 100-employee manufacturer of home furnishings.
While Loomcraft is his business focus, Childress has a much more high pressure and high profile gig every Saturday as an Atlantic Coast Conference official, where he is in his 12th season.
Childress began his venture into officiating in 1975 in South Carolina and entered his 29th season as a high school ref this fall. For those years of service and his outstanding record, he was inducted into the South Carolina Football Officials Hall of Fame in 2009.
But Childress did not stop with high school sports, moving on to small college in the early 1990’s and eventually the SEC and ACC.
“I think I have a good feel for the game of football and I want to let the players determine the outcome of the game,” Childress said last year before his induction into the Mount Airy Sports Hall of Fame.
“My objective is to be anonymous. I want people to remember the game, not the officials. If they do remember us, hopefully it will be for something good.”
Childress has been a part of his share of high profile games, including presiding over the 2000, 2001, 2006 and 2007 Rose Bowls, the 2005 and 2007 ACC Championship games, the 2002 and 2003 Orange Bowls and the 2008 Alamo Bowl.
Childress married his hometown sweetheart Donna and the couple have three children, Crystal, Jack and William, along with three grandchildren, of which Jack is extremely fond.
“I played on one of the last state championship teams Mount Airy had and that is probably one of the proudest achievements I ever had in my life,” Childress said. “I really think this award speaks for every individual on the 1968 team. That was a team event, and this is a team honor as far as I am concerned.”
Contact Thomas Smith at tsmith@mtairynews.com or 719-1920.
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