the most prominent referees because of his style, courage, and judgment. He had excellent judgment. He made the call regardless of the pressure, whom it involved, or where it was." Strom later told The New York Times that "Mendy Rudolph was simply the greatest referee of all time." Strom was also an advocate to get Rudolph enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. On April 2, 2007, Rudolph was announced as one of the seven members of the Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2007 to be enshrined in September 2007, twenty-eight years after his death. It was reported that the length of time for Rudolph to become elected was the result of his gambling lifestyle. He became the thirteenth referee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. References External links 1926 births 1979 deaths Sportspeople from Philadelphia Sportspeople from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees National Basketball Association broadcasters National Basketball Association referees United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War Jewish American military personnel 20th-century American Jews