National Officials’ Group Elects New Officers and Board

(RACINE, Wis.) – Gary Whelchel, Gilbert, Ariz., was elected chair of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) at NASO’s semi-annual meeting of the organization’s board of directors on June 17. He replaces Julie Ilacqua, Chicago, Vice President of Membership Operations for the United States Soccer Federation, whose term on the board expired.

A high school basketball official, Whelchel has worked 23 straight years of 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 Interscholastic Officials Association Arizona Girls’ Basketball Official of the Year award. He was elected to the NASO board in July 1998 and re-elected in June 2000.

Re-elected vice chair was John Clougherty, Raleigh, N.C. Clougherty is an NCAA Division I men’s basketball official who has worked the NCAA Final Four 12 times. Clougherty was originally elected to the NASO board in July 1998 and was re-elected in June 2000.

Gary Gullett, Bryan, Ill., was re-elected to his second two-year term. He was also elected secretary. Gullett is a high school basketball official and purchasing manager for Motorola Corporation. He instructs an officiating course at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill. He was originally elected to the board in June 1999 and was re-elected this year in Norfolk.

Serving as treasurer will be Ron Foxcroft. Foxcroft is a former chair of NASO (1996-97). Originally appointed to the NASO board of directors in 1992, Foxcroft served the board of directors in all officer capacities between 1992 and 1997. In June 1999, he was again elected to the board and was re-elected this year in Norfolk. Foxcroft is the creator of the Fox40 Whistle and is CEO of Fox 40 International. He is a retired NCAA Division I basketball official and worked the 1982 Olympic men’s basketball final.

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 operation of the association from its headquarters in Racine, Wis.

Other previous members of the NASO board re-elected to new two-year terms are John E. Roberts, Lansing, Mich.; and Marcy Weston, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Former NFL Senior Director of Officiating Jerry Seeman and Joan Powell, President of the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO), are the newest members of the NASO board of directors.

Seeman is currently a consultant with the NFL. He retired this spring after serving as the league’s senior director of officiating since 1991. Seeman was a NFL official from 1975-90 and worked two Super Bowls. He officiated high school and college football and basketball for 22 years. He also serves on the NASO initiated Officiating Development Alliance.

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 State High School Associations National Training Faculty.

Others serving on the NASO board are: Randy Christal, Austin, Tex.; Clougherty; and Carter Rankin, Hayward, Calif.

The terms of Julie Ilacqua, Chicago, Ill., and Red Cashion, College Station, Tex., expired.

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.