FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-32                 7/1/02

 SUPERVISOR OF OFFICIALS HYNES TO RETIRE

 AL HYNES, the NFL supervisor of officials who directs the league’s scouting program of college officials, will retire this September, the NFL announced today.

 Hynes has directed the league’s scouting program that recruits Division I officials since 1996.

 “Al has done a wonderful job in coordinating our scouting program as well as our game observer program,” said NFL Director of Officiating MIKE PEREIRA .  “He set up a top-notch program as evidenced by the quality of first-year officials we have brought into the league in recent years.”

 The NFL will introduce 15 first-year officials this season.  In his six years as supervisor of officials, Hynes has been responsible for the hiring of 56 current NFL officials. 

 Upon his retirement on September 6, Hynes will remain active with the league as an instant replay assistant and a part-time college scout.

 “It has been a great experience,” said Hynes, a former football player at Lyndhurst (NJ) High School and a Rutgers University graduate.  “Much work and dedication by everyone goes into preparing for the games on Sunday.”

 Hynes began his officiating career in 1969 at the high school level in his native New Jersey.  He then worked as a college official from 1978-96, refereeing the Army-Navy games of 1989 and 1995.  He also was an official in the World League of American Football (now the NFL Europe League) in 1991-92. 

 Hynes was a police officer in Bergen County, New Jersey for 27 years (1965-92) and retired as a captain of detectives in the prosecutor’s office in 1992.

 Hynes and his wife of 36 years, JUNE, have lived in North Arlington, New Jersey for the past 33 years.  The couple has two children, NADINE and KAREN, and two grandchildren, RUSSELL and JESSICA.  

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