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Unapologetically Moderate
'Miracle of Milan' referee dies
Jasper's Cyril Birge was 93 years old
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JASPER, Ind. — Cyril Birge, who refereed the Milan-Muncie Central state title game in 1954 that spawned the movie "Hoosiers," died Thursday morning at Jasper Memorial Hospital.
Birge, 93, was a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. He played at Jasper High School, leading the 1934 Wildcats to the state finals, then launched an officiating career that included high school and Big Ten Conference games.
He officiated in three state finals -- 1950, 1951 and 1954, when tiny Milan edged Muncie Central 32-30 on Bobby Plump's last-second shot. Gene Hackman later starred in the movie featuring the fictional Hickory Huskers in that game.
"I had a couple people want to claim that Bobby traveled before the shot," recalled Birge in a story in the Courier & Press in 2004. "But no way. He took a great stride, dribbled and hit. The horn sounded as the ball hit the floor. Muncie Central didn't inbound the ball.
"There was no such thing as class basketball then. It was little Milan (enrollment 162) against big Muncie Central (enrollment 1,740). But at the time, we thought nothing of it."
Birge was a manager for the Gus Doerner Sporting Goods Store in Jasper until his retirement in 1985, and stayed active in organizations including the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, adn the Die Hard Cubs Fan Club (since 1932). He was a featured guest at an annual gathering of retired coaches at The Overtime in Huntingburg.
Birge, whose wife Net died in 2000, is survived by four daughters and five sons, along with 24 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Visitation is set for 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Becher & Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, with a parish rosary at 4 p.m. Services are at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, with burial in Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church or a favorite charity.
Former high school and college referee Cyril Birge poses in the gymnasium in the former Jasper High School in 2004.
This is where he started his career in Jasper, Ind. in 1939. One of Birge's career highlights was refereeing the 1954
Milan-Muncie Central state championship game that inspired the movie, "Hoosiers."
Jasper's Cyril Birge was 93 years old
Link
JASPER, Ind. — Cyril Birge, who refereed the Milan-Muncie Central state title game in 1954 that spawned the movie "Hoosiers," died Thursday morning at Jasper Memorial Hospital.
Birge, 93, was a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. He played at Jasper High School, leading the 1934 Wildcats to the state finals, then launched an officiating career that included high school and Big Ten Conference games.
He officiated in three state finals -- 1950, 1951 and 1954, when tiny Milan edged Muncie Central 32-30 on Bobby Plump's last-second shot. Gene Hackman later starred in the movie featuring the fictional Hickory Huskers in that game.
"I had a couple people want to claim that Bobby traveled before the shot," recalled Birge in a story in the Courier & Press in 2004. "But no way. He took a great stride, dribbled and hit. The horn sounded as the ball hit the floor. Muncie Central didn't inbound the ball.
"There was no such thing as class basketball then. It was little Milan (enrollment 162) against big Muncie Central (enrollment 1,740). But at the time, we thought nothing of it."
Birge was a manager for the Gus Doerner Sporting Goods Store in Jasper until his retirement in 1985, and stayed active in organizations including the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, adn the Die Hard Cubs Fan Club (since 1932). He was a featured guest at an annual gathering of retired coaches at The Overtime in Huntingburg.
Birge, whose wife Net died in 2000, is survived by four daughters and five sons, along with 24 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Visitation is set for 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Becher & Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, with a parish rosary at 4 p.m. Services are at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, with burial in Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church or a favorite charity.
Former high school and college referee Cyril Birge poses in the gymnasium in the former Jasper High School in 2004.
This is where he started his career in Jasper, Ind. in 1939. One of Birge's career highlights was refereeing the 1954
Milan-Muncie Central state championship game that inspired the movie, "Hoosiers."