Born and raised in the Smallest City in Connecticut Sam Toni graduated from Derby High School in 1960 where he lettered in varsity football, basketball and track. Sam also attended Vaugh School in Hartford and received his Barber License 1960. He completed his degree in Criminal Justice at Mattatuck Community College in 1976. Sam served two years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. While overseas he was a member of the 709Th Military Police Basketball Team and competed in games throughout Germany. In 1966 he became a Security Officer with Sikorsky Aircraft until his retirement in 2004. He began his football officiating career in 1966 serving the Western Connecticut Football Officials Association for the next thirty-nine years. As an active member of the WCFOA Sam served on the Better Officiating Committee, the Evaluation Committee, multiple terms on the State Board, and was selected to officiate many state playoff and championship games. He received the CFOA Vincent J. Reilly Distinguished Service Award in 2005 and in 2018 he received the WCFOA Jim Carey Dedication Award. Sam is also actively involved in the American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Adriatic Marchegian Club, OLQA Church, Derby Senior Center, Shelton Senior Center and the Hotchkiss Fire Company. During his free time, he is an avid reader who enjoys crossword and sudoku puzzles, and trips to the casino. Sam and his wife Barbara have been married for 55 years. They have two sons John and Jeff, a daughter-in-law Robin, and two beautiful granddaughters Josephine and Caroline.