Springtown’s Darvin Altom inducted into basketball officials Hall of Honor

Altom’s devotion to officiating prompted the Texas High School Basketball Officials Association to induct him into its Hall of Honor in April.

“It humbled me,” Altom said. “It was something I never ever expected.”

He was enshrined in the Fort Worth Basketball Officials Association Hall of Honor in 2018.

His love of the game stretches back to his boyhood. Altom was 8 when he moved with his family to Springtown.

“I started the third grade and lived on the same property there for 56 years,” he said.

He played basketball and tennis at Springtown, and after graduation, he became a paint contractor, taking over Altom Painting, which his father founded in 1950.

Darvin Altom was 21 when he joined the Fort Worth chapter of the officiating association in 1977 and began officiating games. In 1999, he reached his goal of officiating at the state tournament. He returned to officiate the state tourney twice more.

He also began officiating NCAA games and worked contests that included standouts such as Jimmy Butler, Rashard Lewis, and Marcus Smart, who would go on to star in the NBA.

“I worked some of great NBA players at one time, either in college or high school,” he said.

He holds no bad memories of four decades spent officiating other than spending time away from his family. He worked as a painter by day and an official by night for four decades.

He recalled working a game in Portales, New Mexico, one night and driving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to work another game the following night.

He kept his painting business thriving by relying on employees who could be trusted to work hard while he was away.

“I had good help,” he said.

In 2004, hip problems forced him to have replacement surgery. Six months later, he was back to officiating college games.

In 2012, his other hip began hurting, and Altom retired from NCAA officiating in 2013.

Two years later, he had his second hip replaced, and he returned to high school officiating for another couple of years before retiring from the court for good in 2016.

“There are so many guys that hang on too long,” he said. “I did not want them to say, ‘Well, look at old Darvin out there. He used to be pretty good. Look at him now.’ If I couldn't do it at the level that I used to do it … I couldn't hurt the game that's been good to me. It was time for me to hang it up.”

He remained on the THSBOA board of directors for nine more years, resigning two years ago. He continues to work occasionally as an observer for the UIL, traveling the state to watch officials working games.

Mostly, though, Altom, now 67, is back to spending time at home with family and his paint company, which he has been operating for 48 years.

He and Denese have three children, including Amanda, Kristen, and Corey, and six grandchildren. Denese retired from Springtown ISD about five years ago. Corey followed in dad’s footsteps, became an official, and worked the state tournament in 2018 when Allen won its first championship.

“The proudest moment I've had in basketball officiating was watching my son at 30 years old working the 6A state championship game at the Alamodome,” Darvin Altom said.

His children summed up their feelings for their father in a joint statement: “Dad is a one-of-a-kind, loyal, and trustworthy man. He is someone that will always take care of you and love you, as he has done for Mom, us three kids, and his six grandchildren. The greatest lesson we have learned from Dad has been to be confident and stand up for ourselves. As a business owner, he takes his work ethic seriously and expects the same from his employees. As an official, he is a great mentor and has shown how much he loves the game of basketball to three generations. He exemplifies brutal honesty in a way that still shows love and encouragement for you to always do your best.  Dad wouldn't be the man he is today without following Christ and having Denese by his side.”