Longtime UNLV scorekeeper dies

Spencer Patterson

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:13 a.m.

Harold Ruparcich, a longtime high school basketball official and the UNLV basketball scorekeeper for the past 35 years, died Tuesday at age 71.

Ruparcich, who was known to his friends as "Rupe," helped found the Southern Nevada Officials Association after moving to Las Vegas from Minnesota in 1951.

Ruparcich officiated high school football, basketball and track events until suffering a heart attack. For his work as an official, he earned induction into the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association as a member of the class of 1998.

Having been involved with UNLV sports and activities from the school's inception, Ruparcich scored Rebels men's games for 35 years and Lady Rebels games for 20 years.

Ruparcich also served as a Clark County School District teacher for 35 years.

"I'll remember him as someone who put in a lot of effort to make sports and his classroom better for kids," said Clark County School District Director of Athletics Larry McKay, who worked with Ruparcich at Rancho High School during the early 1980s. "It's really a loss to high school athletics in the state of Nevada."

A veteran of World War II, Ruparcich is survived by sisters Violet J. Ruparcich, Erna Novak and Florence Just, and brother Robert Ruparcich. Services will be held in Chisholm, Minnesota.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today at Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Funeral services will be in Chisholm, Minn.