Bill Kinnamon

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kinnamon graduated from Lincoln High School and the University of Nebraska, where he earned a degree in business administration.

He was stationed in Alaska while with the US Army during World War II.

[1] After the war, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service before attending umpire school.

[3] During the 1961 season, Kinnamon became a part of history as the home plate umpire during Roger Maris' record-breaking single-season 61st home run, which was hit on October 1 to break Babe Ruth's single-season record.

He eventually began running the training program independently, operating one of the two principal umpiring schools from 1974 to 1981 in San Bernardino, California & St. Petersburg, FL before selling the school to umpire Joe Brinkman, who had been an instructor in Kinnamon's program since 1973.