Adam Austin (referee)

Adam Austin (1911-1970) is a former rugby union international referee who represented the Scottish Rugby Union. He was involved in many sports: rugby union, golf, curling and bowling, the most notable.

Amateur career
Austin went to Glasgow High School where he availed himself of many sports.

Austin played for Glasgow HSFP.

Professional career
He refereed the Glasgow University Sevens tournament in 1947.

He refereed the first Scottish Inter-District Championship match in 1953. It was the Edinburgh District v South match on 30 September.

He became a selector on the Glasgow and District committee.

International career
He refereed the Ireland v England match in the Five Nations on 14 February 1953.

Curling career
He was President of Bellshill Curling Club from 1967–68.

Cricket career
He played cricket for Greenock Cricket Club.

Golf career
Noted as a golfer of some note, Austin latterly became a golf official.

Outside of sport
Austin moved to Motherwell in 1955.

Austin was employed by the Royal Bank of Scotland: in the Hamilton branch, then as an accountant in the Wishaw branch; then as manager of the Motherwell branch.

He joined the local Motherwell and Bellshill Rotary Club in 1964, becoming its secretary in 1968.

His death was announced to the Rotary Club members on 8 January 1970.

Family
A plane crash on a German motorway made the headlines in 1968. A British Eagle Viscount airliner crashed onto an autobahn killing 48 people. Amongst the dead were Austin's son and daughter in law, Robin and Linda Austin, who were travelling through southern Germany.

Another son, Douglas, joined the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh, as an accountant.