A Muskegon pharmacist by day, Dick Dolack spent his spare time rolling up countless hours as a referee for various sporting events. Ultimately, he embarked on a 25-year career as a field judge in the National Football League.

Dolack began his journey in 1952 as a college student at Ferris State, refereeing junior high and high school contests as a way to earn extra money for school. As a basketball referee, he worked district and regional high school games for the Michigan High School Athletic Association before moving to the college game as a basketball referee in the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). He continued along that path, working Mid-American Conference and Big Ten contests. A top official in the Mid-West Pro League in 1963, he was named supervisor of officials for the newly formed North American Basketball League in 1964. Between 1960 and 1966, he also worked a number of National Basketball Association contests.Super Bowl IX Football.

On the gridiron, Dolack also began at the junior high and high school levels before adding college and semi-pro contests to his resume. In March 1966, he received the call from the NFL and was assigned to the job of field judge. Dolack worked his first NFL preseason contest on August 6, 1966 in St. Louis – the day Busch Stadium was dedicated.
Among his NFL career highlights: field judge for Tom Dempsey’s NFL record 63-yard field goal against the Lions in 1970 and member of the officials crew for Super Bowl IX at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans in 1975.
His years of working games in the old United Football League and Professional Football League of America were recognized in 1987 with his induction into the American Football Association’s Minor Professional Football Hall of Fame. The lingering effects of a knee injury suffered in 1968 forced Dolack to retire from NFL service in 1991.