NASO Board Elects Officers

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) — Marcy Weston, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., was elected NASO chair at NASO’s semi-annual board of directors meeting June 22. She replaces Gary Whelchel, Gilbert, Ariz., Commissioner of Officials for the Arizona Interscholastic Association, whose term on the board expired.

Weston is the senior associate athletic director at Central Michigan University. She is about to begin her 31st year at CMU. The first 17 were spent coaching and the last 14 have been as senior associate director of athletics. Weston is the NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating and officiated in two NCAA Division I women’s basketball championships (1982 and 1984). Her experience at the collegiate level and involvement with women’s athletics for more than 25 years provides NASO with valuable insight and direction in developing training and educational programs geared to college officiating programs. She is also a member of the NASO-initiated Officiating Development Alliance.

Elected vice chair was Randy Christal, Austin, Tex. Christal is recognized by his peers as one of the nation’s top NCAA Division I baseball umpires and football referees. He began officiating baseball in 1968, football in 1970. He has 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 six seasons have seen Christal work the 1996 Rose Bowl, 1997 Sugar Bowl (national title game), 1998 Las Vegas Bowl, 1999 Big 12 championship, 2000 Outback Bowl and the 2001 Seattle Bowl. Christal is a self-employed management consultant and replaces John Clougherty, Raleigh, N.C., whose term expired.

Gary Gullett, Bryan, Ill., was re-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 in 2001.

Re-elected treasurer was 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 last year in Norfolk, Va. Foxcroft is the creator of the Fox 40 Whistle and is CEO of Fox 40 International. He is a retired NCAA Division I basketball official and worked the 1976 Olympic men’s basketball final. Recently Foxcroft became the owner of a professional minor league hockey team affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens.

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.

The officers serve as the association’s executive committee. Other members of the 2002-03 board of directors are: Esse Baharmast, Golden, Colo.; Jim Host, Lexington, Ky.; Joan Powell, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Marc Ratner, Las Vegas, Nev.; Jack Roberts, East Lansing, Mich.; and Jerry Seeman, Fridley, Minn.

The terms of Whelchel, Clougherty and Carter Rankin, Hayward, Calif., expired.

NASO is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) educational association consisting of nearly 18,000 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.

 NOTE: Photos available upon request.