In Memoriam; Robert E. Sumpter

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

― Henry B. Adams

It is with great sadness that we announce that NISOA Legend, Robert Sumpter, passed away on January 28, 2021 at the age of 90. 

Robert Sumpter's soccer career began in 1967 as a volunteer parent/coach/referee in one of the first leagues in Georgia, but blossomed into a tenure filled with officiating, writing and award-winning accomplishments.

During his nine year tenure with Georgia Soccer, Bob served as the Georgia Soccer Executive Secretary and received the GSSA Silver Boot Award. Bob served as a USYSA as Regional Representative, was a member of the USSF Referee Committee, USSF Director of Referee Instruction and USSF National Referee Instructor. He proudly represented the USSF Referee Program to the National Federations of Great Britain, Holland, France and Germany. He received the USYSA Region III Life Member Award, the USSF Eddie Pearson Memorial Award, officiated in North American Soccer League Championships and received the North American Soccer League Referee Service Award while serving them for eleven years.

Throughout his collegiate officiating career, Bob officiated two NCAA National Championships, served as an advisor to the NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Committee for 18 years, and was awarded the NCAA Letter of Commendation in 1993. Bob was instrumental in developing the collegiate game throughout his time serving with the NCAA!

Bob served NISOA as a National Director of Instruction for 14 years, a National Ruled Interpreter for 18 years and  Director of the National Referee Program for 5 years. He represented NISOA while meeting with the soccer federations of the Soviet Union, Italy, Greece and Australia and was in turn awarded the NISOA Honor Award. Bob’s years of service helped shape the organization’s instructional programs and define the collegiate game for years to come.

If this list of accomplishments wasn't impressive enough, in 1983 Bob was inducted into the NISOA Hall of Fame and in 1990, he became the inaugural member of the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame! NISOA annually honors a servant leader through the Robert Sumpter Excellence in Teaching Award to an individual who demonstrates their tenure personifying Sumpter’s honesty, integrity, scholarly, trustworthiness, and promotes the goals of NISOA the way Sumpter did.

Current NISOA Director of Evaluations, George Noujaim, remembers how calm Bob was every time he rose to the podium. George says Bob was “the authority” on the NCAA Rules and everyone became quiet when Sumpter would speak. 

“One of the last times we spoke, Bob said ‘I know the National Referee Program will be in good hands.’ and it meant so much, and still means so much to me now! There are certain things in life that you never forget and I will never forget those words of support from him.”

-George Noujaim

We tried tracking down photographs of Bob in color but John Puglisi said:

When I first started the website, Bob used to write a monthly article for us. I had a photo of him that could have been taken around the time I was born in 1964. That photo reminded me of the photos I used to see in the engineering buildings at the Naval Academy with a professor standing in front of a pre-World War II destroyer boiler plant explaining how it worked to the midshipmen. I’d call him or send him an email every so often to get a updated photo I could use, preferably in color. He would tell me that he had a hard time with the internet and his wife did most of the technology for him.

This went on for at least 3 or 4 years which leads me to my point. I do not believe there to be a color photograph of Bob Sumpter anywhere in existence. I never did get to meet him in person and while I’m sure he actually did exist in color, he was a great gentleman and was always very polite and patient with me. I will always remember him in black and white

Bob touched so many through his time as an instructor, his legacy will be long lasting at NISOA both in spirit and in the Robert Sumpter Excellence in Teaching Award recipient! We will sincerely miss Bob Sumpter and send our heartfelt condolences to his family during this time.

Robert E. Sumpter
Feb. 1930-Jan. 2021

Bob Sumpter (Second Row, Third from the Left)

Bob Sumpter (Far Right)

Bob Sumpter &
Ray Bernabei