BUTLER TWP — The Butler Christmas Tournament has been a long-time tradition on the Golden Tornado girls' schedule.

The officiating crew of Art Monteleone, Mark Farabee and Larry Stimpert — which will work one of the first-round games Friday — have a tradition of their own when it comes to wearing the striped shirt.

They've combined for 141 years of experience officiating basketball.

Monteleone, 75, has been working games for 49 years. Farabee, 67, has been at it for 45 seasons while Stimpert, 66, has been doing games for 47 years.

While Farabee and Stimpert have been on the same crew for numerous games over the years, Monteleone's most common officiating mate has been Jason Stobert.

“The holiday tournaments are all over the place, so crews get more mixed,” Monteleone said. “It's good working with other veteran guys, though. You know they'll always be in position, so you can focus on doing what you're supposed to do.”

Monteleone generally works games five nights a week. He does 150 to 200 games per season.

“As long as I can keep up with the pace of the game, I'll keep doing it,” Monteleone said. “If I can't keep up with the kids, I'll get out.

“The kids are the reason I do this. Working these games helps keep me in shape, sure, but I want to make sure I'm working a quality game.”

Farabee began officiating basketball in the 1974-75 season.

“On a starting teacher's salary, you look for ways to make an extra buck or two,” Farabee said. “I can remember working three games a night at the (Butler) Cubs Hall for five or six bucks a game.”

Farabee is a former football and track and field coach. He officiates track meets as well.

“I've always enjoyed being around the kids,” he said. “We've worked games all over the place, met a lot of good people and have developed some great friendships through the years.”

Farabee has picked up church league and YMCA games along with high school basketball.

“They all need officials. It's never hard finding work,” he said.

Farabee has had knee replacements. He works two or three games per week from December through February.

“Since they've put three officials on varsity games instead of two, it's not as physically grueling,” he said. “But you still have to get up and down the floor to do the job properly.”

Stimpert said he is in his last season of officiating basketball. He's been doing games since he played basketball himself for Clarion University.

“A buddy of mine got into officiating and my playing career was winding down, so I joined him,” Stimpert said. “It was a way to stay involved in the game.

“I used to do more than 40 games a year. I'm down to 25 to 35,” he said. “At the end of this year, I'll be due to go through all the clearances again ... It's just a lot of stuff you have to go through.

“I still enjoy it, just not as much as I used to.”

While some younger people have joined the Butler chapter in recent years, Stimpert said some young officials don't stick with it for long.

“Who wants to go out on a Friday night and get hollered at for an hour?,” he said. “A lot of people don't want to go through that.

“Everybody's a critic. People in the stands are convinced they know the game better than you do. In the past 15 or 20 years, that's gotten worse.”

Like Monteleone and Farabee, Stimpert enjoys the confidence of working with experienced officials.

“Mark and I always enjoy working together. We have each other's backs,” he said. “Officials don't do this for the money. The pay isn't all that much.

“It's fun being part of the game, working with kids. That's what I'll remember.”