Ed Hightower is an American college basketball referee.
He has refereed 12 NCAA Division 1 Final Fours.[1] He officiated the World Championship of Basketball in South America (1990), the European Basketball Championship (1993), and the Goodwill Games (1994 and 1998). He is a frequent official in Big Ten and Big East games. He holds masters and specialists degrees from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and a doctorate in Education Administration from St. Louis University.
Ed was voted the Naismith Division I Men’s College Basketball Official of the Year in 1992. In 1995 he received the National Association of Sports Officials’ Gold Whistle Award. In 1998 he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.[2]
A lifelong educator, Ed is now the superintendent of Edwardsville (IL) Community Unit School District #7.