June 22, 2000

Whelchel Re-Elected to NASO Board of Directors
(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) — Gary Whelchel, Casa Grande, Ariz., was re-elected to the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Board of Directors at today’s semi-annual meeting conducted at The Antlers Adam’s Mark Hotel.

Whelchel has been an amateur sports official for more than 27 years, primarily working high school and recreational basketball, softball and volleyball.

"From my capacity as a local officiating organization leader, I have had the opportunity to assist in the growth of many young officials," said Whelchel. "NASO and its Local Officials Administration Network (LOAN) have provided immense assistance during my career. I have truly enjoyed the past two years with the NASO board and look forward to serving for an additional two more."

Whelchel has spent most of his life as an educator. He joined the Stanfield School District in 1982, and since 1994 has been an elementary school principal. He is a 1991 graduate of the CADRE II Educational and Supervision Program at Arizona State University. He received his master’s degree in secondary education from Arizona State in 1977. He has received numerous educator awards and has twice been named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

A basketball official since 1972, Whelchel has worked 19 straight Arizona state tournament assignments, including seven girls’ basketball state championship games. He is a certified volleyball official having worked three state championship games, and worked softball from 1973-84 and 1993-95. In 1996 and 1997 Whelchel received the National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association Arizona Girl’s Basketball Official of the Year award.

Now in his 30th season as an official, Whelchel has focused most of his attentions on administration. In 1985, the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) divided the state into areas and appointed commissioners to each area to handle the assignments of officials, training, dealing with local issues and acting as the liaison between the AIA and the schools in each area. Whelchel oversees the assignments of 66 officials to 11 high schools for five sports.

In addition to his high school level duties, Whelchel helped form the Central Arizona Sports Officials Association (CASOA) in 1984. The CASOA handles all officiating matters for 16 junior high schools and three municipalities.

"Educators with vision get students to the future first," Whelchel is fond of saying. "This same philosophy applies to officiating and I know of no other organization so completely committed to helping officials as NASO."

NASO is a voluntary membership, not-for-profit, educational association working to improve the skills and conditions for sports officials of all levels. Membership is worldwide and includes officials in virtually every sport and at all levels from youth leagues to the professional ranks.

The organization is headquartered in Racine, Wis.