Frank Bosone, a two-sport standout and member of the University of Portland Athletics Hall of Fame before embarking on a decorated career as a NCAA basketball referee, passed away this week.

"The University of Portland Athletic Department is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Frank Bosone," University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. "In addition to being inducted into the UP Athletics Hall of Fame, he was the most loyal of Pilot supporters over the years. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Julie and the rest of the family."

Bosone was a 2005 inductee into the Portland Hall of Fame after a distinguished career in basketball and track and field.

He earned Catholic Digest Basketball All-America honors in 1961 and was twice named an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention selection. Bosone averaged 8.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game and was a 73 percent shooter in his three-year varsity career as a Pilot. He led the UP freshman team in scoring at 16.7 points per game during the 1958-59 season.

Bosone was also one of the University's top sprinters and held the UP record in the 100-yard dash for a number of years (10.6 seconds) and was also part of the record-setting 4x400 relay team.

He went on to a 35-year career as an NCAA Division I men's basketball referee appearing in 19 NCAA Tournaments and the 1990 Final Four hosted in Denver. Bosone retired in 2004 after officiating more than 1,400 games.

Bosone was a three-sport star in basketball, track and baseball at O'Dea High School, where he is inducted in the school's Hall of Fame. He ran a 9.7 100-yard dash which remained as a district record for 14 years.

He is also in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Hall of Fame after serving as the league's first Executive Director. His tenure ran from 1978-92 and he oversaw the merger of OC-CAA and the NWAACC in 1983.

Outside of sports, Bosone was a teacher, counselor and college administrator at Bellevue College, as well as a successful businessman and community leader. He earned both a Bachelor's Degree and Master of Arts Degree from the University of Portland.