Gerald Austin, a native of Asheville, is a retired public school administrator who has served as a teacher, principal and associate superintendent, but he has really made a lasting impact as a game official. Austin was a three-sport athlete at Clyde Erwin High School and later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Carolina. His doctorate is from UNC-Greensboro. Austin worked for many years as a high school game official in various sports, working several state championships. In 1973, he became a football and basketball official in the Atlantic Coast Conference and then applied to officiate in the National Football League. He was accepted by the NFL in 1982 and has worked 20 years in the NFL, including working as a referee since 1990. Austin has worked three Super Bowls, including XXXV in 2001. He currently is head of The Austin Group, a leadership development organization.  Austin was the associate superintendent of the Guilford County schools for seven years.