George Hepbron

Who was George Hepbron?

George T. Hepbron was one of basketball's first referees and rules pioneers. He is also credited with writing the game's first book, How to Play Basketball, in 1904.

Hepbron was a close friend of Dr. James Naismith, and subsequently played a major role in the early development of the game, especially in the area of rules. Active in many sports organizations, Hepbron was the first secretary of the Amateur Athletic Union Basketball Committee and in 1915, became secretary of the newly formed National Basketball Rules Committee.

Hepbron was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960 as a referee.