FROM MALVERN COACH TO LEGENDARY NFL REFEREE… WHO KNEW?

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Stan Javie

May 2024

Stan Javie

As I continue to do my Malvern research and write stories I continue to come across people with a connection to Malvern who later on, had some amazing professional accomplishments. I have previously written about a football player who is in the NFL Hall of Fame (Careys Corner July 2023) ,and a football player who ran in the 1936 Olympics with Jesse Owens and in his on right was a multiple world record holder in track (Careys Corner May 2023). While completing the stories on the 1941 and 1946 unbeaten teams and creating team pages from 1940 to 1949 (MP History) I came across a coach named Stan Jaworowski. In the annals he is referenced as Stan Javie formerly Jaworowski. I thought the name Stan Javie looked familiar. So, of course, I started digging. Well, it turns out that Stan was one of the most well respected NFL referees for 30 years and had the high honor of being a referee in 4 Super Bowls.

Here is Stan’s story.

Born in 1919, he was the son of 1st generation Polish immigrants. His parents came over and settled in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. Stan, the 2nd of 8 siblings, graduated from St. John’s High School in Philadelphia and went on to play football at Georgetown. In 1943 draft Stan was good enough to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 30th round. How did Jaworowski become Javie? His dad changed the name back in the 1960’s. As you might imagine, the Jaworowski name was often misspelled and in business Javie was easier to spell and pronounce. Hence, Jaworowski became Javie and the rest is history.

My research indicates than Stan coached Malvern football from 1949 to 1955. He was the coach in Malvern inaugural season in the Inter-Ac in 1950 and almost became Malvern’s first outright Inter-Ac champion in his second season. Only a squeaker 7-6 loss to Haverford prevented that from happening. Malvern had to wait 21 more years for that that first outright championship (Careys Corner January 2022). Javie’s teams played some pretty good defense during his tenure… and “back in the day”. Both the 1949 and the 1954 teams show up in the record books (See Tops in Team- Touchdown Club). The 1949 team only gave up 5 points a game and the 1954 team surrendered 6.6 points a game. Not far behind were the 1951 and 1955 teams that just missed the list. They were pretty stingy too and only gave up, on average, 8.5 points a game. Yes, there is a shock. Malvern football teams playing good defense!

Stan was a referee in the NFL for 30 years from 1951 to 1980. As of 2019 his 30 year career placed him 4th all-time among NFL referees behind Dan Tehan, Ben Dreith and Jim Tunney. On a humorous note, Stan was the first referee to wear eye glasses during the games and I am sure he took some gentle ribbing along the way. He officiated the 1965 AFL championship game, the 1968 Super Bowl II (Green Bay 33 Oakland 14 ), 1974 Super Bowl VIII (Miami 24 Minnesota 17), 1976 Super Bowl X (Pittsburgh 21 Dallas 17) and 1980 Super Bowl XIV (Pittsburgh 31 LA 19). Being chosen to referee in a Super Bowl is the highest honor accorded to any NFL official. He made it to the tops in his profession because he was generally recognized as one of the best. Fellow referee Red Cashion had this to say about Stan, “He not only understood the rules but more importantly he understood the meaning behind the rules. Stan saw more on the football field than anyone I ever knew. He loved to train new officials and absolutely loved the game for what it was”. His son Steve, a longtime NBA referee, from1986 to 2011, stated, “My dad stood for everything an official should stand for. He was a man with great integrity and conviction. He was one of the greatest teachers of officiating I have ever come across. It did not matter that he and I officiated different sports. He knew what was important to gain the respect of the coaches, the players and especially his fellow officials. His fellow officials were the ones who were on the field with you and were completely objective, unlike the players and coaches. In this age of being critical and getting ahead in our career at another’s expense, my father taught me to always be supportive of my fellow officials. He never once criticized another official, no matter what the sport. When he saw a replay and it looked like the official blew the call, Dad would always say no one had the angle on the play that the official did. He was right. We can only call the play with the angle we have at that moment. My dad was an official’s official. He was one you would always want as your partner. He would go into battle with you and have your back. Without his input into my career, I would not be where I am today as an official or as a man. Stan Javie was the best!”

Stan retired from the NFL as a Field Judge in 1980. On his last game, longtime fellow referee Ben Dreith had this accolade, “Stan Javie left a legacy of excellence in, and dedication to, professional football officiating. His tenure in the NFL reflected the highest level of personal and professional ethics and ideals. Owners, coaches, players and colleagues hold him in the highest esteem and confidence. His contribution to his officiating colleagues, the NFL office and the professional officials association are legion”.

Stan spent his retirement years in Lafayette Hill, PA. and passed away, at age 83, in 2002.

A Malvern coach and legendary NFL official. How about that!

More to come....