Retires as Big Ten Official
Football programs in the Western Conference this fall did not carry the name of one of the best-known and most competent officials ever to handle a conference game. Horace G. "Cap" Hedges '11, after 33 years of Big Ten officiating, has put away his striped shirt and whistle and has gone into gridiron retirement, if you don't count the advisory role he now fills.
Even at 61, Cap is good for more years of big-time officiating and can turn on the speed afoot for which he was always known, but it would mean pretty rigorous training for a hobby—regular calisthenics, handball and grass mowing—and Cap is ready to rest on his laurels, which are more than enough for one man, and to confine himself to his real estate business.
This fall, on October 5, the Pickwick Club of Cedar Rapids, where Cap lives, gave him a testimonial dinner attended by 125 friends. There were laughs as well as serious moments; the highlight of the fun was the uniform presented to Cap for sitting in the stands. As shown in the accompanying photograph, it was a rainbow affair consisting of a gold jersey, with one sleeve red and one blue, and a pair of pants made from official's shirt material. A big green D on the jersey was surrounded by the letters of all the Big Ten teams, and the figure 33 on the back and on each sleeve stood for the years of officiating. Cap modeled it for the delighted audience, which included his wife, but made no promise ever to wear it again.
A more serious gift was a costly barometer for the Hedges' country home, Eastland Acres, where Cap will now have more time for his amateur weather forecasting. Cap spoke reminiscently of his officiating career and Mrs. Hedges was called on too. Said she, "This is fun for me. I used to have to keep my identity a secret so people wouldn't know I was related to one of the officials out there."
Telegrams read at the dinner included one from President Dickey. He said of Cap, "He represents for me the best in the American athletic tradition. More power to him and may we have more like him."
TOUCHDOWN! Cap Hedges'll good-naturedly models the bizarre uniform presented to him by the Pickwick Club of Cedar Rapids.
