Harry Beitzel

Henry John "Harry" Beitzel (6 April 1927 – 13 August 2017) was an Australian football umpire, print, radio and television sports broadcaster and media personality best known for his contribution to Australian rules football.

Umpiring career

Harry became interested in umpiring so he joined the VFL umpires' class in 1946 and billeted out to regional Victoria, the NSW Riverina and games in Tasmania for three years. He umpired his first senior game of VFL in the - match at the end of 1948 VFL season which made him the youngest senior umpire at the time. Beitzel officiated in 182 senior games (including the 1955 Grand Final) from 1948 to 1960.

Honours and recognition In 2000, Beitzel was inducted into the Melbourne Cricket Ground's Media Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a media inductee.

Imprisonment

Beitzel became the face for "English soccer pools" in Australia. In October 1994, Beitzel was sentenced to 18 months jail, with a minimum of eight months to be served, after pleading guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception over matters related to his work for a lottery organisation.

Personal life

The son of former and player Arnold Beitzel.

Beitzel had three daughters and a son. As of 2014 he lived in Sydney with his second wife, Karolyn. Beitzel had been ill since 2014, after losing sight in one eye and suffering a fall, he also had heart problems. He died on 13 August 2017, aged 90.