'96 Hall of Fame Member Reinhold Spath Dies

National Soccer Hall of Fame member Reinhold M. Spath, who refereed more than 5,000 games in his 30-year career, has died at the age of 91.

Spath, who was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1959 at the age of 29, started his career as a referee in 1961 and eventually refereed games in the North American Soccer League.

Spath, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996, served as the state referee administrator from 1980 to 2002 and as the New York West state youth referee administrator from 1980 to 1999.

In 2008, the Rochester District Soccer League named the Reinhold M. Spath Cup in his honor.

“My most memorable moment was serving as the referee when the Rochester Lancers played the U.S. National Team,” he told the RDSL. “My next assignment from the USSF was senior linesman at the Lancers vs. Santos Brazil friendly, with Pele playing. In my years as a referee, I had great times, and it can only be done in America.”