Late Regina official Ken Picot named 2016 Tom Cheney Award Recipient

Picot posthumously receives prestigious award for contribution to Canadian football officiating

Regina official Ken Picot was posthumously awarded the Tom Cheney Award at the 2016 Canadian Football Officials Association (CFOA)’s biennial conference in Saskatoon on Saturday May 21.

The Tom Cheney Award is presented every two years to an individual for his or her outstanding contribution and service toward the improvement of football officiating in Canada.

“Ken was an outstanding role model for individuals desiring to enhance the development of officiating,” Ron Hallock, vice-president of training and development with the CFOA said. “His love of the game was only overshadowed by his desire to help others love the game.”

Ken Picot, who passed away earlier this year after a battle with cancer, enjoyed a 44-year officiating career with the Regina Football Officials Association (RFOA). He worked at all levels of football including more than 300 CFL games and eight Grey Cups.

In 1995, he became the first Regina-based official to serve as umpire in the Grey Cup in his hometown. During his tenure as a CFL official, Picot still managed to work over 40 amateur games per season.

Upon retiring as a CFL official in 2004 after 20 seasons, Picot served as a CFL supervisor and continued to officiate at all levels of amateur football including minor, high school and post-secondary.

Ken Picot’s achievements off the field are equally impressive as he sought to develop future generations of officials by serving as a clinician, evaluator, and mentor. His devotion to helping advance the careers of his fellow officials also included organizing film study nights, rules clinics and arranging special guest presentations as well as exchanges.

“He led by this incredible example of respect for the game, but also respect for the association and the value of sharing your experiences for the benefit of others,” wrote RFOA president, Dan Fleischhaker in one of four nominations of Picot.

Ken’s passion for football extended into the mainstream, hosting a weekly province-wide TV program where he educated fans on the rules of the game with examples from the previous week’s CFL games.

He also a constant presence at league’s coach meetings, where he would instruct coaches on rule changes and would always stress the importance of a constructive relationship between officials, players and coaches.

About the award

The Tom Cheney Award was named after the late Tom Cheney, football official and educator, a member of the Calgary Football Officials’ Association, a field official in all levels of football from minor league to CFL, an original member of the Officials’ Working Committee and the Editor of the Football Canada Officials’ Training Manual.

His coordination of the material for the Manual was responsible for the excellence of that manual, which is respectfully dedicated to Tom.
After his death, in 1977, the CFOA executive purchased a trophy named for Tom.  In view of his long years of dedicated service to the improvement of officiating, it was decided that the trophy would be awarded biennially to the person who most nearly approached the Cheney level.  The Award is, therefore, given for “outstanding contribution and service toward the improvement of football officiating in Canada.”

Past Winners

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