Cal Lepore

{{Short description|American football official (1919–2002)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Cal Lepore

| image = Referee Cal Lepore (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name = Leonard Charles Lepore

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|4|15}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|12|7|1919|4|15}}

| death_place =

| education =

| occupation = American football official

| employer = American Football League (1966–1969)
National Football League (1970–1980)

| website =

}}

Leonard Charles "Cal" Lepore (April 15, 1919 – December 7, 2002){{cite web |url=https://www.fold3.com/record/81590044-leonard-c-lepore |title=Social Security Death Index |publisher=Social Security Administration |via=fold3.com |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 1, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fold3.com/image/656815522 |title=Draft Registration Card |publisher=Selective Service System |date=October 1940 |accessdate=November 1, 2020 |via=fold3.com |url-access=subscription}} was an American football head linesman, line judge and referee. He officiated in the American Football League (AFL) from 1966 through 1969, and then in the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 through 1980. He worked as the line judge in Super Bowl III, won by the New York Jets over the Baltimore Colts, after the 1968 season. He was the alternate referee for Super Bowl XII and the replay official in Super Bowl XXVI. Lepore wore no. 72 for most of his NFL career (he wore no. 5 in his final two seasons, when each position was numbered separately). He was the supervisor of officials in the United States Football League (USFL) and the World League of American Football, later named NFL Europe.

Lepore is credited with promulgating the use of instant replay{{cite web |title=1985 Interview with USFL Supervisor of Officials Cal Lepore |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g7eX4klsFY |website=YouTube |publisher=USFL Forever |accessdate=1 October 2018 |ref=USFL}} as an officiating tool, as well as urging the use of coaches' challenges in professional football. The NFL adopted nearly all of the components of the Replay Rule he authored and first administered in mid-1980s in the USFL. Referee Magazine has considered him one of the most influential officials in the history of sports.{{cite web |title=Referee |url=https://www.referee.com/made-officiating-november-2007/they-made-officiating-referee-magazine/ |website=Referee |accessdate=1 October 2018}} Lepore was also the referee of the "Miracle at the Meadowlands" on November 19, 1978.

Lepore was born in Chicago and attended Harper High School there. He then played professional baseball;{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62349638/longtime-sports-fan-now-gets-his/ |title=Longtime sports fan now gets his football instantly |first=Dave |last=Straub |newspaper=Southtown Star |location=Tinley Park, Illinois |page=41 |date=June 18, 1987 |accessdate=November 1, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} his 1940 draft registration card listed his employer as the Chicago White Sox, and Baseball-Reference.com has record of him playing for the minor league Jonesboro White Sox during the 1941 season as a second baseman.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lepore001leo |title=Leonard Lepore |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=November 1, 2020}} Lepore served in the United States Army during World War II. He was married and was survived by his wife and three children.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62347432/obituary-for-lepore-cal-lepore/ |title=Obituary |newspaper=Southtown Star |location=Tinley Park, Illinois |page=22 |date=December 12, 2002 |accessdate=November 1, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite web |title=Cal Lepore |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=643823 |website=Legacy.com |accessdate=1 October 2018 |ref=legacy}}