It can be difficult to encapsulate what defines a man who was a mainstay for many in the sports world.

Herbert “Herbie” Welsh was ever-present as a high school official during a tenure that spanned over five decades.

Welsh offered guidance that influenced scores of individuals during his lifetime.

But much of his help happened off the field, and away from the gyms he roamed.

Welsh was - without question - a people person.

His passing last Friday at the age of 82 was met with a profound sense of sorrow and grief. But as tributes flooded in, so too did memories of what made Welsh so special to so many.

“Character and integrity ­ - that kind of sums up everything about Herbie,” said fellow official Dan Rossino. “Herbie definitely had character, and he definitely had integrity.

“Having those attributes, enabled him to be able to have the life, and live the life, that he lived.”

A professional

Welsh officiated high school sports affiliated with District 11 for over 56 years from 1961-2017 across Northeast Pennsylvania. He also officiated NCAA Division II and III college basketball for 27 years.

“And you knew if he was working your games, he would give you his best, just like he expected out of the athletes and coaches,” said PIAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Lombardi. “He probably expected more of himself than anybody else.

“I always will remember fondly the times with him because he always had a smile on his face, and he always cared for everybody else probably more than himself. Herbie will be missed.”

He served as the PIAA male officials representative for 25 years, was the District 11 Chairman of the Cross-country and Track and Field championships, and served on the PIAA board of directors for three terms.

“Herbie was one of a kind,” said Lombardi. “He was a very, very good official and very accomplished. But he was also a good character. He certainly always had a smile on his face.

“He took his officiating seriously, but he never took himself too seriously. We just always really enjoyed Herbie’s company. He was just great to be around. I think of him often and smile.”

His experiences helped him become a mentor for the likes of Rossino, who is both a PIAA and NCAA umpire for softball, and a PIAA official for both football and basketball.

“Herbie, Mike Lukac, Joe Ligenza and Jim Strubinger took me under their wings and made me feel welcome, and wanted me to succeed,” said Rossino.

A friend

Lukac, of Lansford, grew close to Welsh through their years traveling to games together, a relationship that extended to Lukac’s time as the Athletic Director at Panther Valley.

“He was a good friend,” Lukac said. “We didn’t grow up together, we didn’t live in the same neighborhood; the only thing we had in common was sports and officiating.

“But you go to games together - you drive to games, and afterward you might have dinner or whatever - and you kind of get to know the guys in a little bit of a different light off the field, and that’s kind of nice. But I wouldn’t have known him if it wasn’t for officiating, and he was a good friend. And I could always call him for advice.”

One of Rossino’s earliest varsity football officiating experiences came with Welsh in a hostile environment at a Shamokin-Mount Carmel contest.

“It was a great experience. There were probably 8,000 people there at those games at that time,” said Rossino. “And it’s heated. There were some things going on, but Herbie taught me how to handle people in a respectful way.

“Herbie treated you the way he wanted to be treated. And that’s kind of my philosophy in life: There has to be a mutual respect.”

Rossino has since worked three state championship games for the PIAA.

“He didn’t want any kind of recognition; he was always kind of under the radar,” Rossino said of Welsh. “But he was there, and he supported you as an official. If something didn’t go or there was an issue, he was there to represent you with the PIAA. He would make your voice heard. He was a very influential man.

“I have been able to get my son Anthony into officiating, and he had a chance to interact with Herb when taking his test. And Herb was just so happy to see the next generation coming in, and would do whatever he could to promote this line of work. He was definitely a people person. He genuinely cared about the officials, he genuinely cared about the student-athletes, and he genuinely cared about everyone.”

Welsh was always able to bring a humanizing element to something that can often be viewed as cut and dry.

“That’s what he instilled in you as an official; if you’re wrong or if you make a mistake, own up to it,” said Rossino. “We’re all human.”

A coach

Those character traits were instilled in Welsh growing up in Tamaqua, where he was an accomplished athlete himself. He has been inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame’s for the Lehigh Valley, Carbon County and Tamaqua Area High School.

Ed Wise was one of many who came to know the type of person Welsh was at a young age.

“It would have probably been in 1966 or 1967 when we participated in knee-hi football, and that was back in the time when there were four teams in Tamaqua - the Giants, the Cardinals, the Eagles and the Steelers - and Herbie was the coach of the Giants,” said Wise. “He was very affable and likable. He coached the Giants, and I played for a different team, but he was always helpful, and positive and smiling and gave his time.

“I also played biddy basketball, and he was helpful in organizing that. We were in maybe fourth or fifth grade, and Herbie was there every Saturday morning, and I got to know him that way.”

Wise achieved unprecedented success over nearly 20 seasons as a varsity basketball head coach at Pine Grove, Tamaqua, Freedom and Lehighton, leading each school to the district playoffs at least once.

In addition to countless team achievements, Wise also produced seven 1,000-point scorers during his time at the four schools.

“In the pregame meeting with the opposing coach, many times the officials would walk on the floor, and someone would make a remark that, ‘Oh, we have so-and-so again,’” said Wise. “But anytime Herbie walked into the gym, both the opposing coach or myself knew we were going to get a fair shake and a good game. I’ve never heard a negative word about him.”

After his lengthy coaching tenure, Wise turned in his clipboard for a whistle, becoming a PIAA basketball official, where Welsh administered his written test in 2009.

Wise took the lessons learned from Welsh to heart.

“Herbie was a really great athlete also, but not all great athletes make good officials or good coaches,” said Wise. “He had a special knack of knowing what to say and when to say it to diffuse a situation, whether it being a player on the floor or the football field that was upset, or a coach that was getting upset.

“Herbie, with a wry smile, or with his sense of humor or whatever it may be, had that knack of knowing. He was professional, yet personable. He didn’t ask for or demand respect; he just got it because he had those two qualities.”

A mentor

What made Welsh so admirable is what drew people toward him, something that was especially true for legendary football coach Dave “Whitey” Williams.

“I lost my dad young, and he and I had a lot of good conversations and fun,” Williams said of Welsh. “I have great memories of those times. I’ve known him my whole life, and he was a great man.

“He was a guy that, wholeheartedly, meant everything to me. When you lose a father young, but there you have somebody that steps up.”

Williams had a decorated coaching career that included stops at Shenandoah Valley, Tamaqua, Mount Carmel and Nazareth.

He was named the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year three times, and the 1996 Associated Press Coach of the Year.

His most successful tenure came with the Red Tornadoes, where his teams won three state championships (1994, 1996, 1998) and were runner-up in 1999.

Williams, who grew up around Welsh, has now been umpiring for over 30 years.

“Herbie was an example to me, and I’ve always treasured his influence,” Williams said.

A legacy

Williams gained a different appreciation for Welsh during his coaching career.

“He never wanted to be in control of the game, he wanted to do the game,” said Williams. “And that’s admirable. He wasn’t going to change the game; he was part of the game.”

But really, he was so much more.

Some things are bigger than sports. And some people are, too.

Herbie Welsh left an indelible mark on the lives of each person that got to know him.

Those interactions and relationships have ensured that his legacy will live on long after the final whistle blows.

“It was more than just sports. He was genuinely a nice, kind, caring, compassionate human,” said Rossino. “It didn’t matter if he saw you yesterday, or if he saw you 10 years ago; he would never forget you, and he would treat you like you were his best friend.

“And he never had anything negative to say. Even if he wanted to, he turned it around, and it was always constructive, and you walked away from him feeling good about things.”