Louis “Butch” Vietta never expected the highest honor available to an Oklahoma official. After more than four decades on the field and court, he now has it.
Vietta, of Atoka, was inducted into the Oklahoma Officials Association Hall of Fame on July 25 during the association’s business and rules meeting at Shawnee High School. He was one of five officials honored this year, joining Harold Alspaugh of Tulsa, Randy Breeze of Lawton, Gary Matli of Watonga and Ellis Morgan of Ponca City.
According to the OOA, Vietta officiated high school basketball, baseball, slow-pitch softball and fast-pitch softball for 37 years in Oklahoma, working 31 state tournaments and 25 state championship games. Vietta said his career actually spanned 43 years when including his early years working junior high and summer league contests before becoming a varsity official.
