my late husband mel dvorson was passionate about soccer. he was an extraordinary athlete and an exemplary soccer referee. he started playing when he was a little kid and he played for lowell, and by the time he was 16, he was all-city. the century club changed their bylaws so that he could be a member of their team when he was just in his teens. he went on to the army, as you have heard. when he became a referee, he was highly respected by other referees, and by players themselves, many of whom he had issues with, yellow cards, but they all said that they deserve them and that he was always fair. mel was always on the ball, literally and figuratively. he did not wait for the ball to come down to the other end of the field. he was at the side of the action. they clocked him once -- i do not know how many miles he did during one game -- but it was extraordinary. soccer was his passion. he refereed all over northern california as part of the collegiate games. he buried all ethnicities, gay and straight, and he showed them all the same dignity