Tim White, a longtime WWE referee, died Sunday, the company announced. He was 68.
White, who spent more than 20 years with WWE, began as a part-time referee in 1985 while also serving as an assistant to Andre the Giant. He became a full-time referee with the company after Andre’s death in 1993 and worked many of WWE’s main event matches — including the famous 1998 Hell in a Cell encounter between Mankind and The Undertaker at King of the Ring.
“Tim White brightened every room he walked into & the WWE locker room was especially lucky to have him,” Dolph Ziggler tweeted. “Being around Timmy on several PR tours was a joy! We would get our work done & meet after and he would tell old road stories & we’d laugh til the sun came up. Cheers, sir.”
White, a Rhode Island native, dealt with shoulder injuries during his career, suffering one during a Hell in a Cell match between Chris Jericho on Triple H at Judgement Day 2002 and then again on the final three-count of a WrestleMania XX match between Jericho and Christian that ended his career. He continued to work with the company as a backstage official and talent agent until 2009.
“I will miss him forever,” Jericho wrote on Instagram. “The wrestling biz will never see another man this loyal and this proud to be a part of the business and to be one of the boys. I love you Timmy!”
He was one of the company’s most beloved employees and people as tributes poured into social media from around the industry after the news of his death.
“I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend Tim White,” William Regal wrote. “My deepest condolences to his family. A great man, referee and person. We’ve laughed so hard together we’ve both had tears in our eyes. There’s not a better way to remember you. Rest well.”
Added Paige: “No not Tim White.. heart of gold. Always the nicest person in any room he was in. I’ll miss his Andre the giant stories and hugs. Lucky to have known such a great human. RIP Tim.”
White’s passing comes just days after the death of Dave Hebner, another longtime WWE referee. Hebner, the brother of fellow ref Earl Hebner, was 73.
“Saddened to hear about both Dave Hebner and Tim White,” Shawn Michaels wrote on Twitter. “Both incredible men I was privileged to spend time with in and out of the ring. My thoughts are with their families.