If Marvin "Mendy" Rudolph isn't the greatest NBA referee of all time, he is certainly worthy of consideration in that debate. A pioneer of his craft and a fondly-remembered and widely-revered professional thanks to his diligent service on the hardwood, Mendy created for himself an everlasting legacy.

Mendy became the face of NBA refereeing during the early days of the league and is still highly-regarded by hoops aficionados.

Personally, I will always remember Mendy as not only a great friend but as a mentor; and later as an associate whom I credit largely for the success I enjoyed during my 54 years in conjunction with the NBA. It was Mendy, after all, who paved the way for my entry into the league.

I first met Mendy while I was working for his father, Harry, himself a highly-regarded basketball official and baseball umpire. For a time, Harry served as President of the Wilkes-Barre Barons (a community-owned Class A Eastern League Baseball team). The Barons were sponsored by the Cleveland Indians until 1952, at which time Harry organized a contingent of business and civic organizations to bring a locally-owned franchise to the city. Harry hired me as a marketing and public relations officer based on my previous experience within the Indians organization.

During the summer of 1954, among the many promotions we held at Barons games, was an outdoor basketball double-header that featured the Harlem Globetrotters vs. a team of NBA All-Stars and the Boston Whirlwinds vs. the Washington Nationals. This twin-bill drew a record crowd for the area as some fans were even turned away at the gate. The owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Hawks was in attendance that night, and after marveling at the crowd, asked Mendy who was responsible for it. Mendy pointed me out to the owner, and he hired me that night.

Mendy was born in Philadelphia in 1926, making him one year my senior. As a child he loved sports, particularly basketball. I first remember meeting him at a home game for a local professional hoops team, coincidentally also called the Barons. A highly-skilled hoopster during his playing days, Mendy's love for the game led him down the path to refereeing - a task he undertook at an early age. He proved to be a natural.

Mendy's father certainly lent the pedigree and was a model worth studying. He worked with his old man in the 1940's and 1950's in basketball's Eastern League, located in Pennsylvania. When Mendy's father became the first Commissioner of the Continental Basketball League, Mendy himself was about 20 years old and fast becoming a rising star in the refereeing profession. Mendy's work eventually caught the eye of Eddie Gottlieb, owner-coach of the Philadelphia Warriors and one of the NBA's founding fathers. Gottlieb recommended Mendy to then NBA Commissioner Maurice Podoloff and in 1953, Mendy landed an NBA refereeing gig.

Mendy went on to work as an NBA referee for 25 years, from 1953 until 1978, becoming the first referee to officiate 2,000 games. The historic 2000th game took place in February of 1975. Finishing with a final tally of 2,112 games (a record which has since been broken), Rudolph cemented his legacy as one of the greats.

Toward the end of his refereeing career, Mendy served as a basketball analyst for CBS, teaming with the likes of Brent Musburger, Rick Barry and Billy Cunningham. He is also fondly remembered for some acting cameos, including the humorous Miller Lite commercials in which he ejected Boston Celtics icon Tommy Heinsohn from a bar.

People recall Mendy as a referee who was always in complete control. As such, he was called upon to referee all five games of the 1961 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and St. Louis Hawks - two very heated rivals. I remember it well, as I was the General Manager of the Hawks at the time. Mendy worked that series with his best friend, Earl Strom, and did a magnificent job.

Mendy also used his talents to train the next generation of referees, myself included. I realized that I understood the game, but couldn't play it at the next level - and Mendy showed me what it took to be a great referee. And I wasn't the only one - he mentored throngs of young officials for all levels of refereeing.

Thanks to the standards of excellence he set, Mendy Rudolph is the barometer for all NBA referees today. Professional and charismatic, efficient and universally respected, Rudolph was symbolic of everything that an NBA referee should have been and should continue to be.

Mendy's crowning achievement was his induction to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He left us on July 4, 1979, but his legacy is in no danger of following suit - his spirit is out on the court each and every time there is an opening tip, from an NBA game to a local youth scrimmage. A pioneer of his profession, Mendy's work will continue to be the measuring stick for professional referees for years to come.

Marty Blake is CEO of Marty Blake & Associates and the winner of the 2005 John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.