National Football Foundation

A legend among college officiating circuits, Butch Lambert, Sr., officiated college football for more than 30 years. Lambert began his illustrious career with the Southeastern Conference in 1953 and would serve as a line judge for the next 30 years before becoming a technical advisor in 1982. Following his retirement from active officiating, he served as the SEC Supervisor of Officials until his death in 1985.

During his career, Lambert was selected to officiate in 12 college bowl games, two of which were to decide the National Championship. Lambert's most famous moment on the field occurred in the 1978 Gator Bowl, where Ohio State coach Woody Hayes ended his career by hitting a player on the sidelines. Hayes hit a Clemson player right in front of Lambert, who penalized Ohio State. Lambert and Hayes would later become friends.

"I know he would be so overwhelmed by receiving this award," said Butch Lambert, Jr. about his father. "It would be a week or so before he would be able to talk. He had such respect for the coaches and the players who played the game and was so happy to be able to be a part of the game through officiating."

Lambert had an excellent reputation among his peers and a national reputation as an outstanding SEC official. For his long and distinguished career, Lambert received several unique honors. In 1985, the field at Mississippi Veterans' Memorial Stadium was renamed the A.C. Lambert Field and in 1994, the new football stadium at Itawamba Community College was named A.C. Lambert Stadium. In 1980, he received the Distinguished American Award from the Central Mississippi Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

In addition to football, Lambert also enjoyed a 21-year career as an SEC basketball referee.

Lambert began his athletics career as an assistant football and basketball coach at Southwest Junior College in 1948 and became head football coach and athletics director of Itawamba Junior College one year later.

Highly active in his local community, Lambert was the first president of the Tupelo Touchdown Club, the Tombigbee High School Football Conference, the North Mississippi Kiddie League Baseball Association and the Natchez Trace Golf Club. A former president of the National Junior College Athletic Association, he also coached Little League Baseball for seven years.