Kaye Garms, girls sports officiating pioneer, retires from WAC duties
High school girls sports officiating pioneer Kaye Garms has retired as Western Athletic Conference Supervisor of Women’s Basketball Officials after 25 years in the position.
Garms is a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame (1991) and the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame (1995). She was the first female officials inducted by both organizations.
The first “pure” game official inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame, Garms spent 20 years officiating CHSAA activities, including basketball, gymnastics and track & field. She was selected to officiate in the first 15 state girls state basketball tournaments and was assigned to 12 state title games from 1975 until her retirement in 1990.
She officiated in 16 state track meets and was one of the region’s top collegiate basketball officials. She is a member of the National High School Hall of Fame (1995).
Garms joined the WAC in 1990 helping that Division I conference enhance training and evaluation of veteran officials, along with the recruitment and development of new officials. She has been held in great regard by coaches, players and officials alike during her tenure, according to WAC commissioner Jeff Hurd on the WAC website story.
She was honored last fall as the Naismith Women’s College Official of the Year, which is presented to individuals “who display character, integrity and dignity, and have contributed mightily to the growth, success and viability of college basketball.”
For more information on this outstanding women’s sports pioneer, the CHSAANow staff encourages you to go wacsports.com.
Some information contained in this story was provided by the Western Athletic Conference Website.
