Induction Video(Written: June 2015)Over a span of nearly 50 years, Otto Puls was a significant contributor to the success of the WIAC in a variety of roles associated with helping to ensure that the quality of officiating in the conference was commensurate with the most accomplished Division III conference in NCAA history. His officiating tenure with the conference began in 1959 and over the next 40 years, he presided over countless baseball, men’s basketball and football games, including numerous playoff contests in all three sports.
Puls also served as the conference’s supervisor of officials in football and men’s basketball. After hanging up his striped shirt for the last time, he continued to serve the WIAC as a special consultant to the commissioner for football officiating thru the 2005 season.
On the football field, he officiated 238 games in 20 years in the Big Ten Conference and six major bowl games, including the 1977 and 1982 Rose Bowl. Puls is a member of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Madison Sports halls of fame. He has served as an official scorekeeper for the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball home games since 1965, and been the assistant equipment manager for the program for the last 19 years.
In 1955, Puls played professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles farm system. He served on active duty with the U.S. Army and is a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Puls earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from UW-Madison. He recently celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Barb, and resides in Middleton, Wis.