The NFL referee lockout presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a man from Havre de Grace, Explore Harford reported.

Pete Shafer, an NCAA football official, was called upon to referee three games as regular NFL personnel sat out the first few weeks of the season due to contract negotiations.

He is a graduate of Havre de Grace High School (1982), Washington College (B.A.) and the University of Maryland (M.A.).

Before the referee lockout ended in late September, Shafer officiated games between the San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers in week one, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars in week two and Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders in week three.

"It was electric," Shafer said of his experience at Green Bay.

Now living in Lutherville, Shafer has returned to his day job as an executive for a software company, Explore Harford reported.

Shafer's background also includes authoring books on public affairs and working in market research firms Gallup and Harris Interactive.