1950's: Refereeing in the NBA

December 10, 1950 -Whistling While He Works.   Charley Eckman the youngest referee in the NBA, retrieves the ball for players during the game." - The Sunday Sun Magazine, Baltimore, MD

"This season Eckman, who now lives in Anne Arundel county, is one of six men named as full-time officials in the NBA, the big league of basketball.  He also is the youngest official (29) in the pro league.  Keeping his weight up is a problem for him as he usually looses 25 pounds a year.

1951 -  Charlie was rated #2 referee in the country by Dell Publications . 

Most Embarrassing Moment? 1951 -"As for his most embarrassing moment, Eckman says, it occurred when he jumped up into the air to make a decisive decision and ripped the whole seat out of his pants.  He thought for a few minutes he'd have to go home in a barrel, but when repairs were made his vanity was restored." Baltimore News American, John Steadman

February 10, 1953, Durham, NC:   "We want to go on record today as endorsing the performances of Curly White and Charlie Eckman, who worked last night's Duke-G.W. game. White hails from Washington, D.C., the home of George Washington University, and Eckman is from Baltimore, MD. 
"They didn't call 'em too strict, thank goodness.  That's the way it should be in our opinion.  Eckman, by the way, is some character.  He is perhaps the only basketball official in the nation with a "special" pair of "basketball plates" for this teeth. 'I had to have a special plate made for basketball,' he smiled, 'so that I might hold the whistle in my mouth more securely." Durham Sun, by Hugo Germine

November 20, 1953-"Bullets to Face Warriors" - "Carl Braun paced the Knicks' attack with 28 point as his mates made good on 33 of 74 shots, but the game ended in a fight when Paul Hoffman and Harry Gallatin squared off after a rough play.  Teammates and Referee Charley Eckman prevented a further outbreak by separating the two."