Reprise | Walt Coleman, Retired NFL Official & Dairy Executive

Born in 1952, Walter C. Coleman III was the 5th generation to run Coleman Dairy, in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2001 his family business was listed in Family Business Magazine as the United States 75th oldest family-run business, having been founded in 1862. In 2007, Coleman Dairy became a division of Hiland Dairy. Though he inherited a dairy juggernaut, Walt's greatest legacy is in the world of sports. In his 20's, Walt began a long career as a football referee. At the time of his retirement in 2018, he was the longest-running NFL referee in history. This is big money, on a big stage, with big egos, and your word, as the referee, is the final word…like it or lump it. The next day, everybody is talking about it, and everybody must live with it. And living with it is what our guest did for 30 years… the guts, the glory, and the criticism.