Inductee Profile
Mike Bearman
2021
Mike graduated from RLHS in 1962 earning letters in baseball and football. Mike tried out for the football team in his senior year and by sheer determination and total commitment cracked the starting line-up as a defensive tackle for the final 4 games of the season. He was very proud to wear the Warrior colors on his letter sweater and letter jacket. He was also the school sports editor for the “Northern Light” for 4 years. In 1966 Mike graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a teaching degree. While at Eau Claire, he was sports editor of the campus newspaper and an accomplished bowler for the Blugolds school team. After working in the insurance industry in New York and then as a teacher in Illinois and Arizona, Bearman settled in Reno and made a living with his two passions, sports and poker playing. He was an umpire, and as a poker player, loved strategy and crossing wits with his opponents. Mike began his umpiring career in Rice Lake in the 1970’s. After moving to Reno in the late 70’s it is estimated that he worked 17,000 athletic contests in the 25 years he called Reno his home. He also umpired in Lake Tahoe. He combined a tireless work ethic with a hard line on integrity in a career as a baseball/softball umpire and basketball official. Mike loved the rules and abiding by them was his mission. He was a colorful character, fondly known as Mike “DeUmp”, who had a flair for controlling a game, using common sense and a sense of humor to manage players, coaches and fellow umpires. Student-athletes, coaches and school administrators became part of Bearman’s extended family, not adversaries in a contest. His mother Sophie could often be found in the stands and was his constant companion for 11 years. Mike provided exceptional care and love until the end of her life in 2002. Mike died in June of 2004 and was posthumously inducted into the Nevada Interscholastic Assoc. Hall of Fame in February of 2005. His induction biography described “Bear”, as he was affectionately known, as one of the most dedicated and talented high school officials with which the Silver State has ever been blessed.