Kaye Garms

The first "pure" game official inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame, Kaye Garms spent 20 years officiating CHSAA activities, including basketball, gymnastics and track and field. A pioneer in the field, she was selected to officiate in the first 15 state girls basketball tournaments and was assigned to 12 state championship games from 1975 until her retirement in 1990. Garms set a standard of excellence for all officials to follow during her career.

Garms officiated in 16 state track meets and served on four different International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) Board #4 committees. She was also one of the region's top collegiate basketball officials, calling many NCAA and NAIA contests and regional games. She still serves as Supervisor of Women's Basketball Officials for the Western Athletic Conference and Colorado Athletic Conference.

"I do remember how thrilled I was when (former CHSAA associate commissioner) Gene Bunnelle called to ask me to officiate my first state basketball tournament. Being named to the Hall of Fame surpasses that," Garms said.

Garms' route to officiating was a direct action of her participation in sports at Loyal, OK, High School and Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX.

"You know, I just love basketball. When I stopped playing, I wanted to stay involved in the sport and thought that officiating was away to stay near the game of basketball. And, it was one way for me to stay active," she said.

Garms coached freshmen girls basketball and track and field in Jefferson County, guiding six of her basketball teams to undefeated seasons and an .840 winning percentage in basketball. Her track and field teams won numerous county championships in track and field.