News Release – Ohio High School Athletic Association
Executive Director Doug Ute
For Immediate Release – February 26, 2026
Fourteen Set to Join OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame
Annual Celebration of Officiating banquet will enshrine new hall of fame class and recognize officials of the year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Fourteen individuals will be enshrined in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame and 21 individuals will be honored as the OHSAA Official of the Year in their respective sport during the OHSAA’s annual Celebration of Officiating banquet this summer.
The banquet is set for June 20 at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris in Columbus.
The 14 Hall of Fame inductees are being honored for outstanding officiating careers and significant contributions to interscholastic officiating in Ohio. More information on the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame is posted at:
http://www.ohsaa.org/Officiating/HOF.
The officials of the year are selected through a process that includes OHSAA staff, OHSAA Directors of Officiating Development and local officials associations.
“We are grateful for the commitment and dedication of each of our nearly 15,000 contest officials across the state of Ohio,” said Beau Rugg, OHSAA Director of Officiating and a member himself of the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. “The OHSAA takes great pride in celebrating the distinguished careers of our hall of fame inductees and officials of the year. Officiating is a service, and each of these individuals is to be celebrated for their excellence in that service.”
2026 OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame Induction Class (name, city and sports officiated)
William Alge, Findlay (Football, Basketball)
Scott Bunting, Zanesville (Football, Basketball)
Timothy Campbell, Columbia Station (Football, Basketball, Baseball)
Marvin Doyle, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball)
Mark Froelich, Defiance (Basketball)
Francis Gallagher, Lakewood (Football, Basketball, Softball)
Evalyn Hammonds, Columbus (Volleyball, Football, Field Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse)
Sam Jones, Tiltonsville (Football, Baseball)
John Kipp, Brunswick Hills (Soccer)
Dan McGinnis, Plain City (Baseball)
Paul Melcher, Westerville (Football, Basketball, Softball)
Lori Powers-Basinger, Columbus (Gymnastics)
Terri Tutt, Chillicothe (Track & Field)
Matt Velten, Batavia (Football, Basketball)
2025-26 Officials of the Year
Baseball: Glenn Harrah, Strongsville
Boys Basketball: Kurt Schooley, Hilliard
Girls Basketball: Marilyn DeWalt, Oak Harbor
Boys Cross Country: Nicholas Molnar, Lorain
Girls Cross Country: Lisa Rucker, Dayton
Field Hockey: Jonathan Belvin, Munroe Falls
Football: Michael Dame, Brunswick
Gymnastics: Jane Droese, Hilliard
Ice Hockey: Michael Wenter, Lewis Center
Boys Lacrosse: Thomas Scott, Columbus
Girls Lacrosse: Katherine Jirus, Chardon
Boys Soccer: Miklos Hendricks, Canton
Girls Soccer: Jeri McCoy, Bucyrus
Softball: James Reneau, Findlay
Boys Swimming and Diving: Alan Jaffee, Bowling Green
Girls Swimming and Diving: Stephen Mayo, Dublin
Boys Track and Field: Marty Dahlman, Pataskala
Girls Track and Field: Edward Katzman, Youngstown
Boys Volleyball: Terry Bush, Mount Vernon
Girls Volleyball: Kevin McKinstry, East Palestine
Wrestling: Kurt Stewart, Kingston
### OHSAA ###