[1] He was a United States Navy Veteran serving during the Korean War on the USS Roosevelt.
Vanak began refereeing junior high games in 1956 to stay in shape and pick up cigarette money, but it was not until 1959 that he started to officiate in earnest.
Then he went on to the NBA at a time when the officials were permitted some showing of personality in their profession.
The ABA "merger" effectively modernized the NBA with the 3-point shot, the highlight dunking and fast break game and the advent of free agency.
Amidst the drives and dunks and changing dress and hairstyles of the 1970s, was the professionalization of officiating, which had been a per diem profession before then.