Civil engineering alum inducted into the Alabama Sports Officials Foundation Hall of Fame

John Stephen “Steve” Newton, ’75 civil engineering and ’76 environmental engineering, has been inducted into the Alabama Sports Officials Foundation Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Newton, 71, officiated football games for 46 years at various levels before retiring in 2021. After retiring, he was part of the Fox 6 Sideline Show in Birmingham, where he provided a segment on high school rules. He was also a referee state camp instructor with the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).

He also served on the initial mechanics manual committee with the AHSAA to develop an internal manual for officiating, held many administrative positions with the Birmingham Football Officials Association and received the Dick Burleson Outstanding Member Award, which is named for the hall of fame’s inaugural member in 1996.

Newton refereed several AHSAA state championship games and contests televised on ESPN. Additionally, he officiated at the collegiate level in the Gulf South and Southland Conferences. In 2001, he worked as a replacement official for the National Football League.