Julius “Chuck” Meriwether, a native of Nashville, is a graduate of Father Ryan High School. Meriwether attended Martin Methodist College and received his Bachelors’ degree in Health and Physical Education from Athens State College. His interest in baseball was sparked by his father taking him to baseball games as a child. Meriwether later played baseball in high school and college. Upon completion of college, he learned of and later enrolled in the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School.
In 1979, Meriwether began his professional umpiring career in the Minor Leagues, umpiring in the Midwest League, Eastern League, Pacific Coast League, and the American Association, which brought him to Nashville to officiate games at the old Greer Stadium. In 1993, he became a Major League Umpire, only the fifth African-American umpire in Major League history. Meriwether worked the 1996 All-Star game in Philadelphia and the 2002 All-Star game in Milwaukee, which unusually ended in a tie. He officiated in two perfect games: David Cone’s perfect game in 1999 and Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009. He umpired in eight Division Series and two League Championship Series. Meriwether was behind the plate when the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years in 2004 and was again behind the plate when they won the Series three years later in 2007.
In 2010, Meriwether retired as a Major League Umpire and returned one year later as a Major League Umpire Supervisor, where he continues to serve. In 2016, the umpire dressing room at Nashville’s First Tennessee Park, home of the Nashville Sounds, was named in his honor.
Meriwether and his wife, Rita, have two daughters, Melanie and Monica, two sons, Jeremy and Christopher (Brittany), and four grandchildren, Jaiden, CeAirra, Kaleb, and Isla.