I started in '74, and I don't recall anything being any different. The root of this evil is the UIL 1204. I honestly can't say when the UIL 1204 was first established, but, scratches/selections have been going on ever since I can remember, and the UIL 1204 is what allows that:
"All officials must be satisfactory to both parties and agreed upon in advance."
That simple statement gives either coach, or both coaches, the ability to select specific individuals to officiate their games. When it comes to a game at a neutral location - especially playoff games - coaches will almost always refuse to allow officials from the 'home' chapter of their opponent to work the game. So, then they look for another chapter. If the home chapter of the host site is acceptable, then what happens is that the coaches will contact their buddy coaches in that area, and get recommendations. You know how that works. Referee X may not know diddly about officiating, but Coach Reference may love Referee X because he/his crew allows coaches to wander out past the numbers between downs, and stand on the field during the down, and/or let's them get away with having no linemen actually on the line, or let's them get away with snapping the ball without coming to a stop from a huddle/shift. Etc., etc. So, Referee X gets recommended. Since neither coach actually knows Referee X, they trust their coach buddy, and that's who they request - exclusively. If the chapter can't/won't assign that official/crew, then they'll go to another chapter. Geography plays a huge role. If they are playing in Abilene, they ain't about to get a crew from El Paso, when they can get one from within 100 miles.
I am aware that, for their local area schools, a small handful of chapters have managed to pull off not allowing the coaches to select officials. The teams get who the chapter assigns. More power to them. I hope everybody can pull that off. But, all it takes is one coach to refer to 1204 and say: "NO. I want Referee X, or I will get officials from another chapter."
Until the ability to select and indiscriminantly scratch officials is completely REMOVED from the UIL, this will never change. The UIL will never voluntarily relinquish that ability. Since the UIL is a department within the University of Texas (a political sub-division of the State of Texas), it would take action by the Texas Legislature to force a change. And, in a Legislature dominated by UT grads, what are the chances of that happening? I mean, what else do they have to worry about? What? School finance? The border? Federal government intervention in state business? Oh, yeah - high school sports officiating.
Sadly, high school officiating in Texas will NEVER be as good as it can be until the competing institutions are removed from the officiating selection process.
If that was a good practice, why doesn't the NCAA or professional sports do that? That's what I miss most about FBS football. Coaches had no say in who worked their games. We worked hard to know the rules, philosophies, and mechanics, and our supervisor had our backs. We were free to officiate as we are supposed to do. It was good.