NASO Board Elects Officers

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Randy Christal, Austin, Texas was elected chair of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) at the organization’s semi-annual board of directors meeting June 21 in Portland, Ore. He replaces Marcy Weston, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., NCAA women’s basketball coordinator.

His peers recognize Christal as one of the nations’s top NCAA Division I baseball umpires and football referees. Randy began officiating baseball in 1968, football in 1970. He worked 24 consecutive NCAA Division I regionals and eight College World Series (1978-79, 1982-83, 1986-87, 1990, 1996), including the plate for the ’87 title game. His football career is just as distinguished. Currently he works the referee position in the Big 12 and has refereed some highly visible games. The past seven seasons have seen Christal work the 2002 Orange Bowl (BCS National Championship Game), 2001 Seattle Bowl, 2000 Outback Bowl, 1999 Big 12 Championship, 1998 Las Vegas Bowl, 1997 Sugar Bowl (national championship) and the 1996 Rose Bowl. He is a self-employed management consultant.

Elected vice chair was Jerry Seeman, Blaine, Minn. He replaces Christal. Seeman is currently a consultant with the NFL. He retired in 2001 after serving as the league’s senior director of officiating since 1991. Seeman was an NFL official from 1975-90 and worked two Super Bowls. He officiated high school and college football and basketball for 22 years. In 2001, Seeman received the first NASO Medallion Award for his contributions to the association.

Joan Powell was elected secretary. Powell is a longtime high school teacher, coach and volleyball official from Colorado Springs, Colo. Her volleyball teams have won three state championships, and she is a four-time NCAA Division I Final Four referee. In addition to her duties with the PAVO, Powell is a member of the National Federation of High School Associations National Training Faculty. She replaces Gary Gullett, Byron, Ill.

Marc Ratner, Las Vegas, Nev., was elected treasurer. Ratner is the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which regulates boxing, kick-boxing and wrestling. He is also commissioner of the Southern District of Nevada for high school athletics. An active Division I football official and small college basketball official, Ratner is a longtime member of NASO. He replaces Ron Foxcroft of Hamilton, Ontario.

NASO founder Barry Mano continues as president. The president serves by contractual agreement. Mano has served as president of NASO since 1980 and oversees the daily operations of the association from its headquarters in Racine, Wis.

The officers serve as the association’s executive committee. Other members of the 2003-04 board of directors are: Esse Baharmast, Golden, Colo.; Ronnie Carter, Pleasant View, Tenn.; Danny Crawford, Naperville, Ill.; Jim Host, Lexington, Ky.; Anita Ortega, Hacienda Heights, Calif.; and Hank Zaborniak, Pickerington, Ohio.

The terms of Weston, Foxcroft, Gullett and Jack Roberts, East Lansing, Mich., expired.

Foxcroft was appointed by the board to a two-year term as special advisor. In this role he will not have voting privileges, but will attend meetings and provide "valuable insight" according to Mano.

NASO is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) educational association consisting of nearly 19,000 voluntary members. The association advocates the interests of all sports officials through its educational products, membership benefits and public relations programs. Founded in 1980, the organization has members working at all levels of sport from the professional ranks to amateur athletic programs.