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.
Additionally, the OHSAA will recognize those who have dedicated 50 years (42 individuals) and 25 years (247 individuals) of service as state-certified officials in Ohio.
Several Cincinnatians are among those being honored.
The banquet is set for June 21 at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris in Westerville.
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 association.
“We appreciate the commitment and dedication of all of our officials across the state,” said Beau Rugg, OHSAA Director of Officiating and a member himself of the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. “Each year we take 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.”
Two Southwest Ohio officials will be inducted into the hall of fame: Jim Johnson of Mason and Matthew Kleiner of Monroe. Several other locals will be recognized in other categories. They are bolded below.
2025 OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame Induction Class (name, city and sports officiated)
Milt Anthony, Westerville (basketball) – posthumously
Mary Black, Dayton (volleyball)
Daniel Delande, Shadyside (basketball, softball) – posthumously
James Fox, Poland (cross country, track & field)
Ralph Green, Toledo (football, basketball, softball)
Jim Johnson, Mason (football, basketball)
Matthew Kleiner, Monroe (football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball)
Ken Kuhlman, Waterville (football, basketball)
Kenneth Mills, Poland (football, volleyball, basketball, baseball)
Rodney Nichols, Hillsboro (basketball)
Jonathan Ross, Columbus (volleyball, basketball, lacrosse)
Glen Smith, Bucyrus (cross country, track & field)
Lee Spitzer, Columbus (lacrosse)
Kevin Sulecki, Mentor (football)
2024-25 Officials of the Year
Baseball: Jon Saphire, Worthington
Boys basketball: Dan Holland, Fort Loramie
Girls basketball: Rebecca Olmstead, Conneaut
Boys cross country: Kristopher Marshall, Milford
Girls cross country: Dr. Allison Jones, Austintown
Field hockey: Todd Shapiro, Cleveland
Football: Rick Barnes, Pickerington
Gymnastics: Trisha Sefakis, Cincinnati
Ice hockey: Robert McGreal, North Olmsted
Boys lacrosse: Wally Petry, Cincinnati
Girls lacrosse: William Andres, Pickerington
Boys soccer: Ed Shoemaker, Vandalia
Girls soccer: Zack Kinsey, East Liverpool
Softball: Maria Hottinger, Hilliard
Boys swimming and diving: Eric Turner, Springfield
Girls swimming and diving: Joe Vogt, Massillon
Boys track and field: Mike Nissenbaum, Powell
Girls track and field: Dave Milkovich, Copley
Boys volleyball: Tim Meyer, Cincinnati
Girls volleyball: Anne Bean-L’Heureux, Athens
Wrestling: Paul Coffland, Cadiz
OHSAA 50-Year Officials
Raymond Anthony, Columbia Station
Richie Bellas, Kinsman
Gene Bishop, Milford
Rex Durdel, Twinsburg
John Evans, Massillon
Michael Fruth, Wellston
Donald Hange, Defiance
Richard Hanna, Cuyahoga Falls
James Herold, Canal Winchester
David Hershey, Westerville
Philip Horvath, Wadsworth
Thomas Jones, Cincinnati
Ron Knight, Warren
Joseph Koler, Wheeling, West Virginia
David Madaras, Pemberville
Donald Marsh, Jr., Roaming Shores
James McPike, Edgerton
Paul Meuleman, Pioneer
Louis Mouser, Jr., Huntsville
R. Thomas Neighbarger, Cortland
Stephen Oren, Lima
Julius Palazzo, Columbus
Phillip Rhonemus, West Union
Terry Roy, Fayetteville
Thomas Rutledge, Chesterland
Donald Sabo, Ravenna
Rita Schnipke, Fort Jennings
Randy Schreiber, Zanesville
William Scott, Huron
Paul Sells, Westerville
Kathryn Sowers, Cincinnati
Connie Steinbrunner, Celina
Danny Strain, Greenfield
James Thielen, Darbydale
Rodney Thompson, Orrville
James Troyer, Columbus Grove
Stan Urankar, Cleveland
Michael Uszak, Avon Lake
John Vicarel, Youngstown
Joel Vogt, Massillon
Bill Welch, Salem
Michael Whitley, Huntington, West Virginia
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Southwest Ohio officials to be inducted into OHSAA hall of fame
Reporting by James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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