History of the Eastern Board of Officials
The Eastern Board of Officials (EBO) was founded in 1905 by the late Edwin Bancroft Henderson, to combat stereotyping, train a new generation of athletic officials, guarantee higher wages, improve working conditions, and secure assignments for colleges, high schools, and youth athletic leagues. Through the years, EBO has officiated a wide variety of sports, to include football, basketball, baseball, softball, boxing, handball, swimming, track and field, tennis, volleyball, and other sports. EBO continued to make history, as it became the oldest predominately African American sports officiating organization in the United States after most other black officiating organizations dissolved in the 1960s. EBO continues to provide sports officiating services, to the Districts Public Schools, Department of Recreation, and area colleges. The EBO has groomed, trained, and developed officials for football, basketball, baseball, and other sports. EBO’s current members remain committed to excellence in officiating, integrity, professionalism, and training as part of its continued legacy that began a century ago and is proud of its distinction as the oldest African American officiating association in the country.
