Rob Maddie
AP Pro Football Writer
Luo Wenfan
Lo van Pham’s NFL journey began when he fell in love with sports after arriving in Texas after living in a refugee camp with his family.
More than 40 years later, Fan Fan will be the first Asian-American to serve as an NFL referee.
“I never dreamed of being first in anything,” Fan Fan said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “It’s been an absolute privilege. People reached out to me and reminded me how special this is and I just want to do the right thing and deliver the message I need to deliver, not only representing our Asian culture and our Asian friends, but really representing All minorities, whether it’s the Middle East, just different backgrounds, different people are there. I want to convey the fact that if you work hard, be prepared, commit and do what you can control, your desire and your passion will take you to the next level, no matter what effort you choose.”
Before he was introduced to U.S. football, Pham Pham survived jungle trips in South Vietnam with his parents and two brothers and bounced around in refugee camps in Laos, Thailand and the Philippines for about three years. He was too young to remember that experience, but as he got older, his parents filled him up.
“They told me, obviously, how dirty it was, how dirty it was,” Fan Fan said. “But beyond that, I remember my first night in America. We stayed in a makeshift hospital and they boarded us for the first few weeks until we got our feet wet.”
Fan Fan, 49, grew up surrounded by Dallas Cowboys fans in Amarillo, Texas. He started playing football at an early age and continued through high school. While pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Colorado, he turned to refereeing to stay connected to the sport.
“When I signed up for the competition, it was kind of out of boredom and love for the game,” he said. “I remember telling my friends what I was doing and their first comment was: ‘Are you crazy? Are you crazy? You have better things to do on Saturday and Sunday.
“I really like this. It’s a game I’ve played since I was a kid, and I absolutely love it. From there, it makes me want to get better.”
After moving back to Texas from Colorado, Fan Fan attended hosting clinics and training camps. He trained in a high school association and developed his skills as an officer.
Van Pham joined the NFL from the Big 12 Conference. Since the officer is not a full-time employee, he will serve as a deputy judge while maintaining his day job. Van Pham’s background is in civil and structural engineering.
“Most of my friends seem to think football is really my full-time job and my real job is my part-time job since playing in top five football,” he said.
The NFL has 121 field game officials, 49 of whom are women or minorities.
Being a father is Fan Fan’s favorite job. He and his wife Kelly have two sons aged 7 and 2.
“They kept me humble,” he said. “They remind me of my job, which is number one, being a father. That’s the most important thing about being a father and being a good husband.”
