George Washington University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1967
- Class:
- 1936
J. Dallas Shirley (`35) earned three letters as a guard for the GW men's basketball team, and was known for setting up plays for his Colonials teammates.
Following his playing career, Shirley taught health, social studies and physical education, and was principal of Gordon Junior High School in Washington, D.C. He also ran the J. Dallas Shirley Men's & Women's Basketball Officiating School, conducted many clinics around the world and wrote numerous books on basketball officiating.
As a referee, Dallas worked more than 2,000 games -- from high school level to the Olympics. He had a distinguished career as a National Basketball Association official starting during the association's creation, and refereed at the 1960 Olympics in Rome as well as the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago. He was supervisor emeritus of the former Southern Conference and observer of officials for the Atlantic 10 Conference. In 1979, Shirley was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield, Mass.
Shirley also gained honors playing basketball in high school, including the a spot on the All-high basketball team, and was inducted into the National High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Shirley was an avid supporter of GW Athletics as well as chairman of the GW Athletic Hall of Fame selection committee, even at the age of 80. Shirley, who died in 1994 was married and had two children.
