Officiating high school sports has gone from an escape from reality to a beloved passion for Mark Thacker.
That helps explain why the Chattanooga native is halfway through his third decade suiting up in the familiar black-and-white stripes on football Friday nights — and sometimes other days of the week — even as officials’ associations around the country continue to experience staffing shortages.
The 2025 TSSAA football season kicks off in less than two months, and it will be Thacker’s 26th as an official. Thacker, who has also officiated local baseball and basketball games since 1999, is grateful for the opportunity to give back to his community by helping young athletes have the opportunity to compete fairly and safely.
(READ MORE: 40 storylines for the Chattanooga area’s 2025 prep football season)
His achievements as an official including umpiring 10 TSSAA baseball state championship games, having worked one at every level from Class 1A to 4A.