Longtime Area Umpire and Referee David Sturm to be Enshrined in Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Among the inductees to the 2022 class of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is longtime umpire and referee David Sturm of Salisbury. Sturm’s officiating career spanned 50 years before retiring last year. Sturm says he’s honored to be a part of such an elite group.

Sturm got his start as a baseball umpire. Five years in he began working basketball and softball games. He then put 39 years in as a football ref. Sturm says vision problems early in life almost prevented his officiating career from the beginning.

While mostly working high school games during his career, Sturm also officiated college games for Central Methodist, Culver-Stockton, and Washington University during his career. Sturm says it was tough to pick one sport over another as his favorite to officiate.

Sturm adds there are some specific moments that stand out during his career.

In addition to his work as an official Sturm continues his work as an accountant in Salisbury. He will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Columbia on November 20th.