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2004 UA94/6/1 Scrapbook Charles Ruter
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Recommended Citation Ruter, Charles, "UA94/6/1 Scrapbook" (2004). Student/Alumni Personal Papers. Paper 112. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_alum_papers/112
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USA Track & Field Page I of I
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I ',1 I I At So L j A, " I , )11 1 I , Cont;!ct Ruler wins Giegengack Award JII. Geer Director 01 Commun,cat,Qns 12-'-2001 USA Track & F,eld (3171261-0478 ~360 f FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JIII,GecrC!'usal ,o'g
MOBILE, Alabama - Longtime official, meet director, Inlernationalleam staff member and former vice president of USA Track & Field (USATF), Charlie Ruter, has been named the 18th wmner of the Robert Giegengack Award. Ruter receIVed the award Fnday evening al the Jesse Owens Awards Dinner and Xerox Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held In conjunction with USATF's 2001 Annual Meeting.
The award is presented annually to an IndiVidual ··who excels in contributing to the excellence and high standards of the sport." The Glegengack is USATFs only accolade for contributions not limited to one of the sport's three disciplines - track and field. long distance running and race walking - or to anyone of the three areas of conSideration - official. coach. administrator. The award was established in 1982 and named after the former Yale UniverSIty track and field coach's half-century of ·'superior and outstanding contributions as an Official, as a Coach, as an Administrator to the sport and to the OrganizallOn:'
During his many years of involvement in track and field, Ruter placed his thumbprint on nearly every aspect of the sport. especially in the area of meet officiating. When he began directing meets In the late 1940's and early 50·s. Ruter was frustrated that he had to rely on tans or inexperienced volunteers to offiCiate hiS track meets. When he look over the nallonal certification of officials in 1976. there were 67 registered officials. There are now more than 8,300.
A highly acclaimed official In hiS own right. Ruter was selected as the head field referee al the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. and he officiated at every U.S. OlympIC Trials from 1972 through 1996. He also served as the chief umpire at the 1987 World Indoor Championships and Pan American Games.
Ruter served on many U.S. international team staffs. mcludlng as the head manager of the first U.S. track team to compete in Red China. HIS service to the sport also Included stints on USATFs Board of • Directors, and a term as the organization's vice-president.
Ruter got his start In track and field as a hurdler and 440-yard runner In New Albany, Indiana. He played basketball at Western Kentucky UniverSIty for three years before enlisting In the U.S. Navy in 1943. He returned to Kentucky In 1948 to finish hiS degree and went on to earn a masters degree and teach English at Fern Creek High School.
USATF thanks Its sponsors: Verizan, Nike, Visa, SaBe Sports System. Xerox , and General Motors @ USA Track & Field 2001
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¥ f, ".1. \A j fI \OJ N,-tl( -I The Ultimate Award 'I, '1~ " ,I I -, I ~ " I, 3( ,- f By DR. ROBERT MA~cus , t '(j t SouTHERN CAUfOllNIA ASSOCIAOON " Ii, lh y 1 ., , , , J,
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Ike abr,)l rr.llly ~ldV'lq 10 Ca'fl t:le pili. ~r't I), h ;JI' '>thlx '-01 P-;J( 'S, a'l(l unlvers I os 111m iqhOlit CtI.IJ IIC is it loUnll ldsknn·;te'. lJinrmos have to follow' qid f\nlerica, r()g('~hcr Will. Chit! COJCllfl"!' and c:ommur'lty ,iin. Jlon~, they had tlf!l\cr :)!,' prole. ~Ion.:tl l~ ;1 """P~; :1~ltl()fl: ttlf-!SC rrogr ..... 'Nw(J~,lldCkcoad't<, .Qrg . Tf\.A.CK /I. nfl l) COACHl S REVIf-W 19 CHARLlf'S ANGfLS Profile of Charlie Ruter Billy Reed, a Sports Illustra ted sportswriter, once lightheartedly called Charlie Ruter a ·'track nut. !! without recognizing the truth of his statement. Ruter is crazy for track and for track athletes. RlI!cr"s enthusiasm IOf Irdck & rteld bcnJn In N",w Alt);-lIlY. faSCinated \.'_~Ih The lr'o(lliUli1, whore he ran tile 1/0 yard hlgn hurdle., Hie 440 span I hadn't yom! race and anchorec1 tilt! mle relay for hiS high sctl(x}l. competed m ,lCll Rule(" t) igll SChOOl coach OileR Silid. "Charlle begins ami • , • Yo,,*" ,,,bunt! sIMI pholO by J OHN H. HARRALSON JR. Newest members of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame ate, from left: Wes Cox, Johnny Cox, I Bill Gatti, Lee Rose, Billy Reed, Vernon Hatton, Tom Hammond, Lisa Harrison and Charlie Ruter. They were inducted Sept. 10 at the Galt House East. Charlie Ruter made his Induc tion speech. .. =. Louisville's Charlie Ruter, left, showed his plaque to Bobo Davenport of Bowling Green. They both played for Ed Diddle at Western Kentucky. Wednesday, May 14, 2003 THE VOICE-TRIBUNE ., - .: . - Ruter is honored • at Owens Classic As Chnrlie Ruter hns done lor the past 18 years, the Fe rn Crc~k resident went to Columbus, OhIO, to officint(' in the J('l';l';C 0w(,l\!1 1'rnck Clns~ic :\l.ay:2 nnd 3. m 'The \('wran intc rnatlOnal 0. 1 cinl was surpriscd dunng openlflll ceremonies when hi' ~as p rcc;{'r~t d with a Jx>autlfu\ ~111vN cup ,IS ~h e winn('r of the ~Jesse O'.:"(,ll ~ • , Outstanding Offi Cials Award. f Ruler wns a personal fnPlul ' the African-American spnnt shu f the 19;\6 OlympIC Games whl'rI ~e made Ad ol f Hlt.l e r e1t hI words nhoul Aryan supremnc, , . DICK TRACY and - THE CROSSWORD !ction appear on page C·7 Wednesday, July 4, 2001 8 pages UK's Hatton, Cox elected By EARL cox onship. In )95f) it \\a-- ('OX" tlllll allOn, Cox .... enl to Rupp's office .lLisa Harrison. a great ba~ Sports Columnist he was the st(lr of (;0(+1(·1 J{itt{'l'" nnd informed the famous coach, "I ketball player at Southl'llI High Hazard championships. Th,'n got 'er" for Bill Brown and 111('u a si:lr :11 • Johnny Cox and Vernon Hal they te(lmen up to Iprld Adolph Vour Loui svillian5 arc among Tennessee. She now ' I , • _... 200 I Hall of Fame Class • Volume] 8. !'iumber 7 April 2001 www.nfhs.org In This Issue 8 W;bJIC p T. flY" H ...... e Girls participation In wrestllug on r~ 10 , Home Khool ~tudents In .,U,,'ty programs? 28 Cd.lifornia KI~15 new c eu:- c c!'rector Ke t hJ.c::ks01 I ' ~ • Thrt'e former high "chool athletes, one coach, thrl'l' contest offi cials, t\\o adJllini~trators and one other indindur11 h,l\'l' bet.'11 (-ho~en tor the 2001 c1.1SS of the Nation,,] High School Sports • Hall nt Fame . See story, page 4 • • • • \ • Director:'; 1\:-.'>octaliol1 Hair of hlml', ~oftb,,11 and tIll' mterprdt>f for b , NfHS NEWS 'Aprll 2001 , • • . . From the Publisher UNITED STATES TRACK COACHES ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS TRACK & FIELD OFFICIALS fre~idcrn _~I s 11m d rector at the Flonda Relays and • Vice President Jim Nesbil1 track coacll al the University of Florida In the Ime 19605 ilnd 70s, I would often Secretary Deb VercaU!efell wake liP ei;trly Irom several rughtmall'..5 Treasurer I drearJ1e(i that :\000 athletes afr lVed lor the Relays but JIm Barber 110 ottiCrats sho'::ed lip. Fortunatcty, thc nightmare never .A,L4!!g.e: carlle true and each ycar ovel ?OO devoted ottlclals Fred Baer made the He!ays and Olher llIeets successful. II did not D.l'!'i~!l.lIL~.a.£.tQ!.d ~dke me long 10 appreciate these dedicated officials ot Dennis Cra(Jdock our great sPOrt Terry Cmwford III 1070, Andy Bakjlan. the tlrsl chairman of -I he ~~~ry AlhlHlc Coogress Inow tile USATI J, led the way In ccni J IMMY CARNES Gordon Thomson tyln~l oiflcials throughout lllf' Uni\OO Stales. Charlie nllter bccamf) the "'ofhcials guru" QiWQD lLGm~~OiID!n' ~"t)O as,lsled Andy 111 tile tremendous growth of cl'lrlifled of1,clals, It was during James W' ,anlS l&.is.i9.!L!LIra£1t! FielQ prep tli9b~clLOQ! Hansen about lrack & field Coaches Heview feClturing tile technlca! aspects of Otfl John HernfTl(!f clallng work III each future Issue. Ow I,rst IntroductOf)' article vidl be lounrl on page E'a..§tE.rni@nJ 21 of IIlIS tssue In order 10 reach olhet otticlals. \".'e are askll¥j the thousands of Gary Schwarlz coaches who roO-;lve lhls magaZine to share 11115 ilnd tUlure ':Irtlctes With therr otjl(;lals ,...no lIlay "01 be cerl IIf-!d In addition. wo want to pubhclle to all coaches and oHi DIVISION PRESIDENTS Clais hO,", II~ call lOin and become con Ilod by USA Irack & field D.rii~Ot1l "I:@.~ ~ Fiel!;! Tefry Cral .. lord ThiS IS~,lIe of rrack and I leld Coaches J"leview is fOilchlng more lImn BJX)O certr fled offiodlS. Wo are provldllig il S 10 SrJC<.;lal Offer lor all of1IClals '1'1110 would .Ike a D~olMeru .!Lro-»..CQM.111rY Gordon Thorn)On sub~.;cripllon and membership III tho US Track Coacl)CS i\ssoCldlion. lhe fee Will mJkc It posslblfl tor u'- ~() mad the magazine to each 01 you qU Qi'@iQI'l1LT@c~ U!Q!d art. pan of a great ~;por1. but II IS Q'1cn neglected In tllC adrninlstrnl,ve orkes of high Jcunes WIII~'1ms schools nnd Ul1lver<; t es. I Ius neglect IHads to a lack oil ner lia coverage Qi ~~nJL ~AIA-c'~U:;mmtQ' Jim I~BITlCI Q9!ILI11@!.ty.Q...@gQ ) Joe Ha'lh liarry Krtcherlef Oarrejl Rich lRACK&~IElD(;OACltEsnlVllW 7 • • • Twenty-six people became charter members of the Metro Area Athletic Directors Hall of Fame July 21 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Voice-Tribune staff photos by JOHN H. HARRALSON JR. " ( , .' . ) , I I , • Bill Brown, left, and Voice-Tribune sports columnist Earl Cox. ~ ::; ~ rf I ,~., Dot Charmoli, widow of inductee Butch Charmoli, was with two of their children, David and Jane. Inductees, from left, Forest Able, Stan Hardin and Jim , r Watkins. , Artie and Dean Young, who represented their late father Paul Master of ceremonies Gary Montgomery, left, posed with Young, posed with Sue Fetter and Bill Mulkins. inductee Jerome Henderson, center, and svelte U of L assis tant coach Scott Davenport. , ~ , ~ • • L • ...... "" Jim left, Cha Ruter, center, and state po I lice commissioner Ishman George Sauer, left. Bob White, center, and Leonard Bloss. Burks were inducted. Ruter suffers that run-down feeling Charlie Longtime track Ruter, 8', Is recovering official was hurt from a hlp fracture at C-USA meet suffered • when a Iy BRIAN BENNm sprInter bbennett@courier'JOumIilcom crashed Into The Courler..JoornaJ him during warmup., As Charlie RUler lay in bed recuperatmg at Jew;sh Hospital erees. He had performed the yesterday, he had but one com· same routine thousands of plaint umes wlIhout incident. "Gosh," he moaned. "I'm go Chaunte Baldwin of Texas ing to be missing so many big Christian accelerated oul of her toumamenls. " staMing block with her head The legendary track and field down, as most runners do, and official suffered 8 broken hip in collided With Ruter an accident during Saturday's ··It knocked me out." he ~id. Conference USA Outdoor "I felt bad for that poor girl Championship al Cardinal Park She was crying and saying. 'I The 81-year-old Ruter, who was think I killed that man.' " inducted to the National High Ruter has witnessed col· School and Kentucky Athletic leagues being fatally struck by halls of fame last year, under an errant discus or javelin, and went surgeI)' Monday and will in a recent meet two referees begin about two weeks of reha were Injured by the shot put. bilitation today_ "People don't realize how • The Fern Creek resident has dangerous this can be," he said. traversed the globe while offici Hundreds of people from all atmg track meets for the past 55 over the country have called or years_ He's a veteran of two sent get·well wishes to Ruter Olympics. 2S nalional cham and his wife, Ruth. Track offi· pionships and countless college cials and coaches throughout and high school meets. Kentucky have called to say Ruter, who played basketball how much they'll miss him at f al Western Kentucky Uni\'ersi· the Slate high school meet in 'y, also has been the official two weeks. ihe injury also will 5('orer for the boys' state bas· keep him out or the NCAA's Di· ketballioumament for the past vision I and 11 championships. 39 years and for the girls' tour· But Ruter doesn't plan to nament the past 11 years. slow down once he gets healthy. But never in his career had he His target return date is the expenenced anything like what U.S Track and Field Masters happened Saturday. F"inalists in event Aug. 8 in Maine, and from the women's IOO·meter dash there he hopes to resume his were practicing their staMS normal schedule. when RUler walked onlO the "Oh, yeah," he said, "I'll be track 10 check on the other ref· back," ':1 d "Pappy" Redman, lett, joined Charlie Ruter in the Hall OY Redman is recuperating from a stroke, and .Ruter of Fame . k hOp "I'll be in New England to of tic late a h om a bro en I . " 'd R t national track and field meet in August, sal u er. Voice-Tribune staff photos by JULES DOVANI • • • NOTEBOOK Ruter is named to high school Hall of Fame' By JODY DEMLING Charlie Ruter, , State selection, set Ballard'S career John Kolsa but had never made it ~ The Courier-Journal 79, has been the scoring record with 102 goals. The the 121h Region final in his 13 years At official scorer Bruins lost to South Oldham in the the school. The school's only olher ~ Charlie Ruter. a longtime contribu for the boys' sectional fi nal last fall. trip to the final was in 1979 - before tor to high school spons, will become Sweel16 for 38 Rich picked Alabama over Tulane any of the current players .....ere born. ' the fifth Kentuckian to be induCled years and also and 10"""3. State. "From Ihe beginnin~, they reall~l info the National federation of lIigh is known lor his Job openings thought Ihey could (W1I1 Ihe title). ' School As..wciatlOns Hall of Fame. work as an Kolasa told the Ad"ocale ~ l essenger . , Ru ter. 79, a former Western Ken oUicial for track Greenwood has filled a job open· "They didn't wish they could and tucky Unh'crsity baskctbaH player. and fie ld events, ing, while Owensboro Catholic is hope Ihey could: they reatly believed has been involved with high school Including the looking. it cou ld happen." , athletics for 54 years and has been Olympics. Mark Nelson has been na med The Patriots (27·5). who won thei r the official scorer for the boys' football coach at Greenwood. replac· three regional games by an average Sweet 16 for the past 38 years. petItion in the Uniled States at one ing Greg Ulasiewicz. of 14 points, will face Henderson " J didn't know about Ihis," said time or another. Ruter also was vice Nelson is a \982 Western Ken· CounlY in the first ro und of t~ Ruter, who was informed of the hon president for the U.S. Track and tucky graduate who played football Sweet 16 on ThurSday in BOwling or Wednesday in frOnl of 11,000 fa ns Field Association and from 1976 to fo r Ihe Hilltoppers. He spent four Green's E.A. Diddle Arena. ;, at the Sweet 16 in Lexington's Ru pp '96 was the administrator of certifi years as an assistant coach at Port· Arena. " I was very surprised. but cations for track offi cials in the U.S. land, Tenn., and for the past 11 years Victory Christian when I was out there (at center Ruter - who also was the Ken· has been an assistant and associate victorious in KCAA " court) [ staned thinking, 'Fifly-four tucky Colonels' official scorer and head coach at Westmoreland. Tenn. Victory Chris tian Academy won the years is a long time,' ., was the scorer fo r every NCAA Owensboro Catholic is looking for Kentucky Christian Athletic Associ· Ruler, who will attend the July 1 Tournament game held in Freedom a girls' baskctba ll coach after Bruce ation b a ~kc l balltitle last weekend :it ceremonies in Maui. lIawaii, will l'lall - played basketball. track and Embry stepped down. The school is Valley High Schoo! with a 51 .. 19 vic[o~ joinKenluckians Paull lornung. ST. baseball al New Albany (Ind.) Iligh accepting applications. ry over the Academy for Individual Roach. Geri Grisgby and Cliff lIagan School He played for Western from Lxcellence. VCA ~enior Tanner Capps Lincoln County in Ihe Ha ll of Fame. 1939 to ' 13 . of Shepherdsville WAS named M\ 'P gets first trip lie scored 59 points and had 3 1 re: Ruler. who is already a member of Ballard soccer star Ihe Kentucky lI igh School Athletic Behind stellar play from senior bounds in three games. Association lIall of Fame. is also signs with Alabama Cassandra Peek. Lincoln County NAmed to Ihe all·tournamenr learn well· known for his contributions to Ballard soccer standout Taylor won its firs t 12th Region girls' title from Christian schools throughout track and field. Rich has signed a letler·o(·intent to earlicr this week. the slate were Timmy Merrill. Alben He has served as an official for play for Alabama The Lady Patriots (27·5) had won Kiteck, Brandon f\lonroe. KC. Cau, two Olympics and e"ery major com· Rich. a three·year first·team All· three 45th District titles under coach field. Josh Cox and J.P. Bonds. I • • ~ - • 41 .... onL,'O'O .. - . >''0'''' "'" . -1..L,' .... >. .... 1::-. 0 ' QJonE" _ ~o ",<1>"'1:: :2;:' '0,0.::<1> ""'0';;0",,-=;::1,,,"' ,-::=;':;: .... >.~:..; .- ,0 .... X~QJ", ", '-' u ", 0._ - .... Oon $~ ' ~ .... O~ ...... " 0 '" _~ ",b()b() "" L, ~[ilE"2;::1o~ E~ "'~I':'::: ;:;;'=41 _ -~ en a. 1: Ct , .,... c: ._ c:: ." ~'O 1-0 0 ~ ... . 5 ~s::~"5 ",o;:::~""bQ.2..241 g :.c-~f3 · ~"''OE :;- co .;: .c cu "0 .... "0 ';: C. Eg ... :;:~'O ,.c:g~, ~!::-§eo.~..c:.!::Bo~g ",E,;;<""5io.~4I2~;::I ~ ~ OI:J .!! ~ "'m ...... "'cu ... :):) ;:-:> .aliic:1:~"OE 1..o/i . oo~!! '.0."'- . "''''''" 5"=~ Q/ - ... 1..'0",_ vl::!!!_ "'-ci m.2! 0 E u- ... .- ~ '0-' 'bQ '"01':"'1.. ''''~<'>'-' ""o.nO'Q/ -.-.~. CII-I':"<::"'Q/' QJ!:!E 0 .__ ._ . 0-i':"'b()':;1..::", ", ·uo.n3EbQ (;j 'U; .!!! "' '''L, ~<0:1 . - "' t::~~ ...... ,0 '0.0 ~,c ~ . e-~~"'~j;~~~"ii ,.c:i!:t;j .... "'~ .g~!:!]~g ,o~!!!.g!:!- .... ~ .... ~Q/QJ~ ~Q/~ "'o~ U ~ .:;">.", ~:E~I':'(;j~ . ]:::'Q/t;jL, . !:::~*:':: . 5Q) ' ~oo ~ ~ ~..c S Eh -"' .... '0 0 ~oV'l ""'2L,':;""Q/","" ~-fl':~t! >.£ • .ebQ:l ... t1.OU.E~"O .... V'J z " mf:i .~~_. ~'~.E ~. '" fE ~ ~ • . ,#- • Just another shrining year in the life of Charlie Ruter By JDOY DEMUNG unnOliced. RUl er al ready is in three halls .. The Courier..Joumal of fam e and will be inducted into three more this year, siorting with tonight's Charlie Ruter will tum 81 on Tuesday, ceremonies for the Notionailligh School but the longtime contributor to high Sll:l?rt5 Hall of Fame in Maui. Later he school athlellcs and globetrouing track wIll be enshrined in the Kentucky Athlet and field official isn't slowing down. ic Hall of Fame and the Metro Area Ath· The Fern Creek resident has been to letic Directors Hall of Fame. all 50 states and several foreign coun· "Talk about the jackpot," Ruler said. tries. Twice in the past month he we nt to " I've hillhree of them in one year." Eugene, Ore., and this weekend he's in Though aU three are special, he said. Hawaii for the fifth lime. the Nauonal High School Hall of Fame "I have to keep' going," Ruter said. " It "is very humbling" because there are keeps me young. ' BY w.A'I' ANN l ~ TH: CQt..AI£R.JCIURNA,l The hundreds of thousands of miles he See AN0TI1ER longtime official Ct\arUe Ruter has logged over the years haven't gone Page 7, col. 3, this section soon will be in ahe halls 01 lame. I Another,shrining year in Charlie Ruter's life Continued from Page CI er at Okolona High School before go- for international trips. :', . ing to Fern Creele in 1948. He. spent "We love and respect Charlie a lot. only six other Kentuckians and 269 CHARLES RUTER six ' years as the boys' basketball He's a great ambassador for the Unit· other people in it. He'll be one or 10 Born: July 3, 1920. j ... ," '. coach there before becoming athletic ed States and a great asset for USA inductees in the hall's 19th class to. High school: New Albany • • director at Eastern High. . Track and Field to have on our side." night as the 82nd annual summer Ind. (partIcipated In basketball, lie eventually became assistant Ruter has sen'cd as an official for meetings of the National Federation baseball, track). principal at Eastern and spent some two Olympics and every major ccmpe of Stale Hig h School Associations time on the central start of the Jeffer- tition in the United Slates at one time College: Western Kentucky t come to an end. son County ~b li c Schools before or another. lie also was vice president rr. Uriversity. . . ~ -- ...... re- "Just to be considered up there Major accomplishments: tirinJ in 1979. of the US. Track and Field Associ- with the people who are in th iS thing "lvebeen around,'\ hesaid. ation from 1976-96 and was adminis- is amazing.' Ruter said. "Every ath Track and field official lor two. Ruter has been the official scorer trator of cert ifications ror track offi le tic hero America has ever known is Olympic Games; VICe president 01 for the boys' State Basketball Toul'- cialsthrouglloullhecounttr,. U.S. Track and Field Associatton; in this one. I'm ~ust really touched by nament for the past 38 years and for "We had 67 official s. ' Ruter reo the whole thing. ' official lor every maJO{ U.S. com· the girls' tournament slOce 1992. He called, "When we finished we had He will be tnc first official rrom his petitIOn at one tme 0{ another; of· was the public·address announcer, 8.200. We educated people, and we 51ate inducted. The Kentuckians al ficial scorer tor boys' Sweet 16 referee and field judge for the State tried toge! them excited. ready enshrined are Gcri Grissby, Cliff SII'lCe 1965; otficial scorer for gll1s' Track and Field meet for 45 years. " It's all worked out really weil for lIagan, Paul Hornung, GamlS Martin, Sweet 16 since 1992; Kentucky He also was official scorer for the me ~l've.been to every state and tak S. T. Roach and William Kean. Colonels' o/fidaI scorer; scorer lor I Kentucky.lndiana AII.Star'basketball en teams to Russia, Germany, Jamai "Charl ie is sort or an icon," every NCAA 'Tournament ' game games from 1958·76, for the Ken- ca, Caracas, a month to China and KH SAA commissioner Lo uis Stout ever ptayed in Freedom 1;811. tucky Colonels of the old American ,.lotherplaces." said. " Hc's so weil·known and so • Other honors: Inducted into Basketball Association and for every Among his fondest memories art a well.respected. He's j ust a very big the OawaharesiKHSAA HaU 01 NCAA Tournament game played in trip to China in 1975, when he met part of the Kentucky Hi"h School Fame, the Kentucky Cross Coon- . Freedom Ha ll. future President George Bush. and a AlhleticAssociation family. ' try and Track and Field Coaches ' And he has worked every game in two·week journey to the Far EaSI in Assistant KH SAA commissioners Association Hall of Fame and the lhe 54·year history of the boys' Lou· 1980 as manager of the U.S. team. Brigid DeVries and JuHan Tacken NAIA Hall 01 Fame. This year he " isville Inv itational Tournament. One meet in "Peking was the first and several members of the board of will be inducted into the National ''That's a lot of games," he said. " I '" matchup between the United States control are among those in Hawaii High School Sports Hall of Fame, think that's one ormy rroudest facts, and the Soviet Union Since the U.S. for the ceremonies. Ruter is being ac the Kentucky AthIelic HaU of Fame the longevity of some 0 the things." team boycotted the 1980 Olympics. companied by his wife of 57 years, and the Metro Aiea AthlellC Olrec· But his hig h school and coll~e " I had to decide who carried the Ruth, who said; "Over the years he's tors Hall 01 Fame. " contribut ions pale compared With hiS Amencan nag III the opening cere done his thing and I do mine. But accomplishments in track and rlcld . monies," Ruter recalled. "This young he's been a lo t of places, and this is a where he is one or the best·known athlete came up to me and made a great honorforhim." • say 57 years. but we haven't been to· and most·respected officials in the request. II was Edwin Moses. I imme· Ruter credits much of his success gether near thatlong. l'vc traveled all world. diately said, 'No problem, Tiger.' " to his wife, who is involved in tocal over the world." "~ I e's the quintessential volunteer Looking back on his career, Ruter charity work. Ruter, a New Albany High School for USA Track and J-·ield." chief ex·t said; " I want to be remembered as a "She's says she's Jhe reason .I've, graduate, played basketball for Ed ecutive officer Craig Mesback said. ... very professional official. I just .....ant • lived so long." he said. "People ask Diddle at Western Kentucky Univer " lie's always there for us in his. ca· to do a very professional job at what· how long I've been mamed. and 1 sity. He staned his career as a Icach· pacily os on orricial and team leader C\'e r It is I'm doing" " I • • J i 1 • It was a proud moment In Charlie Ruter's life when he and flag·bearer Edwin Moses led the American team Into Tokyo's Olympic stadium for an eight-nation track and field meet In 1980. Ruter was in charge---=- of the American team. ! • • • • ., • I , , , rl-r;;~ . ~.. r .., ~.:': ' Ruter and his fr i~ nd s, the late John Tong and Richard " Rosie" Rozel, worked the officials' table for I the1969 NCAA,-- Fmal Four at Freedom Hall. Ruter was the official scor_e r. _ _ - - --:c-r • NOTEBOOK Ruter is named to high school Hall of Fame By JODY DEMUNG Charlie Ruter, State selection, set Ballard's career John Kolsa but had never made it to The Courier-Journal 79, has been the scoring record with 102 goals. The the 12th Region final in his 13 years at official s corer Bruins lost to Sotlth Oldham in the the school. The school's only other Charlie Ruter. a longtime contribu for the boys' sectional final last fall. trip to the final was in 1979 - before tor to high school spans, will become Sweet 16 for 38 Rich picked Alabama over Tulane any of the current players were born. the fifth Kentuckian to be inducted years and also and Iowa State. "From the beginnin~, they really into Ihe National Federation of High is known for his thought they could (WIO the tHlel." School Associations Iiall of Fame. work as an Job openings Kolasa told the Advocate Messenger. Ruter, 79. a former Western Ken official fo r track Greenwood has filled a job open "They didn't wish they could and tucky University ba~ketball player, and field events, ing, while Owensboro Catholic is hope they could; they really believed has been involved with high school inc luding the looking. it could happen." athletics for 54 years and has been Oly mpics. Mark Nelson has been named The Patriots (27-5), who won their • Ihe official scorer for the boys' football coach at Greenwood, replac three regional games by an average Sweet 16 for the pasl38 years. petition in the United States at one ing Greg Ulasiewicz. of 14 pOints, will face Henderson "I didn 't know about this," snid time or another. Ruter also was vice Nelson is a 1982 Western Ken County in the first round of the Ruter, who was informed of Ihe hon president for the U.S. Track and tucky graduate who played football Sweet 16 on Thursday in Bowling or Wednesday in front of 14,000 fans Field Association and from 1976 to for the Hilhoppers. He spent four Green's EA Diddle Arena. at the Sweet 16 in Lexington's Rupp '96 was the administrator of certifi years as an assistant coach at Port Arena. ,., was very surprised. bUI cations for track officials in the U.S. land, Tenn., and fo r the past 11 years Victory Christian when , was out there (al center Ruter - who also was the Ken has been an assistant and associate victorious In KCAA court) , started thinking, 'Fifty-four tucky Colonels' official scorer and head coach at Westmoreland, Tenn. Victory Christian Academy won the years is a long lime.' " was the scorer for every NCAA Owensboro Catholic is looking for Kentucky Christian Athletic Associ Ruler, who will attend the July I Tournament game held in Freedom a girls' basketball coach after Bruce ation basketball title last weekend at ceremonies in Maui, lIawaii, will Hall - played basketball, track and Embry stepped down. The school is Valley High School with a 51-49 victo joinKentuckians Pauillornung, S,T. baseball at New Albany (Ind.) High accepting applications. ry O\'er the Academy for lndi\'idual Roach. Geri Grisgby and Cliff Hagan School. He played for Western from Excellence. VCA senior Tanner Capps in the Hall of Fame. 1939 to '43. Lincoln County of Shepherdsville was named MVP. Ruter, who is already a member of gets first trip He scored 59 points and had 34 re • the Kentucky High School Athletic Ballard soccer star Behind stellar play from senior bounds in three games. Association lIall of Fame, is also signs with Alabama Cassandra Peek, Lincoln County Named to the alHournamcnt team wetl·known for his contributions 10 Ballard soccer standout Taylor won its first 12th Region girls' title from Christian schools throughout track and field. Rich has signed a letter-aI-intent to earlier this week. the state were Timmy Merrill, Albert He has selVed as an official for play for Alabama. The Lady Patriots (27-5) had won Kiteck, Brandon Monroe, K.C. Cau two Olympics an.d every major com- Rich, a three-year first-team All- three 45th District titles under coach field, Josh Cox and J.P. Bonds. l • , • • • • Page C·12 THE VOICE·TRIBUNE Wednesday, September 27, 2000 1 Tracking the Games I Charlie Ruter's years as Olympic official make Sydney events special as he recalls great moments L.A. stories • Some of Ruter's best memories Voice-Tribune are from his wo rk at the 1984 Ruter Bio Profile Olympics in Los Angeles. On the Name: Charles M Ruter competition's first night , a fire alarm wentofTin the Olympic Vil Position: Retired educator; By lage where the athletes were stay official for track and field and other sporting events • - - SUSAN ing, he said, Firefighters arrived, MCDONALD but the music comi ng from the Age: 80 room was so deafening that its StaN Education: New Albany High Correspondent occupants couldn't hear them knocking. School; Bachelor's and Mas "They broke the doo r down and ter's Degrees from Western there were a bunch of South Kore Kentucky University ans cooking a s nake on a Family: Wife Ruth Wise Ruler Millions of people around the Hibachi,n said Ruter. globe are glued to their television A few days later, Ruter a rrived Hometown: New Albany • sets this month watching the early in the morning to fi nd police world'!; be~t athletes compete in and FBI officials swarming the Summer Olympics, but fe w around the dressing room of the he's watching the track and field are w:'ttching with the expert eyes then-Los Angeles Raiders, where competitions from Sydney, but of Charlie Ruter. In 1984 and the track a nd field officials were wlth a more practiced eye than 1996, the last times the summer hendquart.ered. President Ronald the rest of us have, Ruter enjoys gnmes we re held in the United Reagan was scheduled to visit the watching the athletes, but most of States, Ruter wasn't in front of Olympics that day and on a rou his attention goes to the officials. the TV, but on the field as an tine check of the premises, bomb From in front of his TV, Ruter Olympic official. sniffing dogs had ze roed in on a probably wonders what kind of f'or more than 30 years, the suspicious-looking black box in stories this vear's officials will ::'-Jew Alb.lnY native, who retired ;>k:.·Trlbune 511U phoro by SUSAN MCDONALD the dressing room. take home, "like the time two In 1979 from the JefTerson County CHARLIE RUTER French pole vault coaches got Public School system, has seen Mome nts later, the box's seats on the front row and were much of the world as a field judge, matter how hard you try.'~ vaulters to jump the \\al1. Th( "We had about 45,000 people owner , wh o was one of the shouting what seemed to be announcer and administrator for Ruter has visited China three NBC news crew traveling witt there when a streaktlr came right officials Ruter was supervising, instructions to their athletes dur track and field events. Along the times, but the most memorable the group had their camera' down through the middle of the arrived and identified its contents ing the competition. way, he has had a lot of laughs was a 1975 trip when he led the rolling as the athlete vauiteli field with nothing'" but a smile," as his rather innocuous lunch. Ruter called one of his stand and more than a few brushes wit.h U.S. track and field team on its about 15 feet into the illr, landinf said Ruter. "They opened it up and sure by officials, walked him over to fame. first visit to that. country. The squarely on top of the Great Wall The crowd uttered a collective enough, it was a bologna sand the coaches. introduced him as a The basement of Ruter's Fern group spent a month there, trav gasp as the naked man hurdled a wich, an apple and potato chips," college French professor and said Creek home is stuffed with the eling to competitions in Shanghai, ~I'11 never forget that," saie small fence to disappear mto the said Ruter. ~ That dog was just he'd be s itbng wlth them to memories and paraphernalia of a Canton and Beijing. Ruter. ~Everybody just roared, P nearby woods. then waited for a hungry." ensure that they didn't give any full life. Photographs and memen "I didn't see how we'd ever get said it was easy bE>cause he didn t comment from the announcer. technical advice to their athletes. tos from his careers in education, back into the United States with have to come do\... n on the other Expert eyes In truth, the official "was doing the U.S. Naval Reserve and ath all the souvenirs we got,~ Ruter ~de,~ "I came on and said, 'I'm sorry, Ruter also worked the 1996 good to speak English, let alone letics compete for space with his said. That same year, Ruter wa; ladles and gentlemen, but I do ..i't Olympics in Atlanta and has being fluent in any other lan foxlcnsivc setup of electric trains One of his best memories serving a'l public addreH have the tim(> on that last event; taken teams to track and field guage, but he sat there through and his collection of more than involves a visit to the Great Wall announcer <1t a meet Jx.tween th~ ~ Ruter said. A couple of guys com petitions in Japan, South the whole event and they never 600 hats. of China, where someone chal United States and Russia at Dul. ~ said, 'Charlie, that was you r America, Russia, Jamaica and opened their mouths ngnin,~ said The walls of his office are filled lenged one of the team's pole Unin'rsity. finest hour.' ~ many other locations. This year, Ruter, with photos. There is fo rmer Pres id(>nt George Bush, whom Ruter 2 a got to know while accompanying • a U.S. t rack and field team to ChInn when Bush was the U.S. li<1ison officer there. There is John Wayne, whom Ruter once sal beside on a flight. to Los Angeles. The encounter took place shortly after Wayne hnrl won an Oscar for his role in • • ~_ • > _ 1 " .... --'-"'~_ Page 0-2 THE VOICE· TRIBUNE Wednesday, August 4, 2004 Off\ClAl _ ~ ",nCO REMEMBER WHEN 1sf woman pro baskefballer EARL cox, Sports Columnist played atKentucky the Jefferson Colonels County of theArmory American (now TheBasketball Garden s). 1 ~:;~I"[~'"~':;,rif,~dt.,.;'~O::I~who~,"~:e,: had been a sportscaster for WHAS radio and TV. was the when he got the bright idea of having the first women 1 So h' "~:;~~~~~'~~', Penny Ann Early to an orrietal ABA contract. In the photo she to official scorer Charlie Ruter, Other members of the leg crew were, from left, Donnie Beckhan, John Tong and Richard . Penny Early (umed around and In-bounded the ball to a . who called 1 .neout. That was the end of Penny Ann's basket· ball career! • • • , • • • • • • r J~T .,; • t ',.< , - ·h, , . .r'" .I " • • '''', ~ I .. ... • /! -.,,-'/ ~. <0 ~ • J "' ) . .., '\ • • • ,l \ /r \, ( , \ ' / ...... -.-. ~ ~... - .. ~-- • • • • --- .. -.. -.- .... He was a founder of the' MRso'n- ., Di~on Athletic; Club, \vhid\ was a world-class indoor track meet ror 'WKUtrack many years and still exists as the equivalent of the KHSAA indoor state championships. A 57-year to be veteran at the national and intcma , named " ,,' tionallevel, Ruter climbed the l{lu der in track politics to arrive at the in honor of vice-presidency of the The Athletics , I ' :: " \It '. . . . t·, " Congress (now USA Track & NA'native" : Field). He has been team manager ; , " ., '. ,. I " . ' on numerous USA·teamjunkets overse.l.s. He has officiated at every level from middle school to the Charlie, . " ., • T''' Ruter' , . Olympics! At 84 years old he was recently named as the Honorary t1;/i:i",$v,llC J'/(;,'01 Head Umpire for the 2004 Olympic By FRED GESWEIN ., "" ", Trnil s to be held in Sacrntllento in Tribune Run.ning Columnist " 1• .1" ," f Somerset high school Charlie RUler, a New t,lpany include four boys' Slale nalive, and a sports figure known RUTER cross county titles and one CONTINUED FROM PAGE lB • • internationally in track and field. ". girls' state track and lic\d · will re..1ch another milestone on championship. April 3 when the renovated track at ketball game. Later that his alma maIer. Weslcm Kentucky evening he was honored at Bocock has been University, will be officially named a banquet in his honor. President of the Kentucky in his honor. 111e tmck teams from Ruter, tagged "Fern Track and Cross Country other Kentucky colleges will com· .' Creek's Ambassador of Coaches Association, the pete on that track"for the first time " Good Will" in a book writ- KHSAA Director for Track in twenty years. ten by Donald Aspy in and Field, and a Track and . Ruter is a 1939 graduate of 1998. and his Evie will cel- Field Rules Interpreter. He NAHS. While at New 'Albany he I ebrate their 6o1h anniver- was named to the Kentucky excelled in basketball and track. the sary April 15. Track and Cross Country latter under the guidance o~Alex . '.' J Charlie is still active in Coaches Hall of Fame in lllOffi. As a Bulldog Ruter ran the" . NAHS affairs as a member 120 Yard High Hurdles, the 440. '. of the Alumni Memorial 1989, his last year of and anchored Lhe mile rclay. Committee, a group that coaching. , Ruter graduated from Western in ' .;, awards grants to NAHS stu- He has also officiated at with a B.S. In 1946 and ' ..... • dents. numerous college confer- in ence- and national champi- onship level meets through- Not far from Ruter in out the nation. His most Sacra m ento will be a noth- recent role at that level was cr NAHS gra d, Gordon Bocock. as :! Starter 3.1 the Having run cross country Southeastern Conference and track at NAHS under Championships at days was the likes of Damon Sims, Lexington. in February. he sa"l't~O!ion'in Don Loughmiller, and As "Assistant Chief j~l~r , Nevil Garrett, the 1964 Umpire" at the Trails grad ran and coached at Bocock will assign umpires ',' : ~~to Cumberland College. to various positions around Charlie naval '. Bocock tben moved on the track and then follow a Comman'der. A teacher ahd, ',,";, ~ " 10 Pulaski County High up on violations recorded, . administrntqr. for many years 'in ~~ : ', ., . School where for seventeen should there be any. JefferSon'County School systepl, ~e . ! Y';ars he ran one of the continues to,volunteerhis seryice.s '~ . most successful high school "Track and lield has been at basl • • • METRO AREA ATHLETIC DIRECTORS HALL OF FAME preSl'IllS tbe • FIRST ANNUAL HALL 0/ FAME CELEBRATION and DINNER CHARLIE RUTER Sfltlll'dflY, Jllly 21, 2001 Holidf/y bill Louisville - Dowlltowll Second fllld Broadwf/y Charlie has had a lull life of athletics thaI span over 50 years. An active track and 'Ield enthusiast. hiS career has covered high school. college. and the OlympIcs. HIS high school involvement and accomplishments mclude a vanety of outstandmg elforts He served 45 years as PA. announcer for the KHSAA Siale Track Meet. 38 years as Official Scorer for the KHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament and 10 years for the Girts KHSAA Stale Basketball Tournament. From 1958·1976 he was the Ollicial Scorer lor the Annual Kentucky-Indiana H,S. All-Star games and from 1956-1972 George conSidered II an honor being able to assist In opemng up a new school and being Instrumental In developing the Athletic Programs al Pleasure Ridge Park High School, especially the bUIlding of the football stadium. Helping to organize the first Kentucky High School Athletic Director's Convenllon and being selected the 'Irst AD of the year were major accomplishments In George's career, along with serving on many football and LIT committees. He served as Tournament manager for the 6th and 7th Region Basketball Tournament. He • has served as the Official Scorer for every LIT High School Basketball Tournament, and Since 1988 he has been on the KHSAA Track Committee. He has been Involved In High School athletics for 54 years and on September 10. 2001 he Will be Inducted In the Kentucky Athlellc Hall of Fame . • 4 • A!nro ; In'lI AIMnir Direr"'rs 111111 of FII11I1' • • -,"'-'- -- Ruter volunteers 50 years service to track/field worldwide by Kathy Vogi "By the lime 1 gOI hack to Ihe ASMstant Superintendent of Public to the referee and any furt her track and licld in the Untied Slates Charlie RUler ., not unly a Ulll\er~l\y. It wa~ midlllght." he Schoob. H I~ wife of 52 years. the disputes mu~t go [{} a Jury of Internationally II IS rcfcrl..~ .... • rcm)l.l,lll'd lr;ll~ and Ileld olfll:i:ll. ",lid former Ruth Wi!>e. i, also a retired appeals where $100 in U.S. '1Il1ply a.o; Athletics. Thl' U.S abo hUI he 1~ ;lho ;l golden gllc~;.cr RUler W;I~ not at Centennial teacher and princlp'll. Mrs, RUler currency must he depo!>l ted and IS h'l~ four official track and field rule \\hl'n II l:ornc~ 10 OIYIllPl;l1l ParI.. ;11 the lime of the explosion wa!> the lir,t prlllclp:11 of Wheeler refunded If the ca:.e IS won hook'\ and Ruter ha!> 10 knov. the ,lIhlel('\ ,.:llIng lie .... world fcnm.h hl·c.llI"e of hi~ tight schedule. ,., Elementary Schon[ III Fern Creek. For our IIlformallOn. Ruter rules of all four. These hool.., arc .. [ slud, 11\) ned, uUI", he laughed. IMd hecn there carher that day .. h..: A!> he.ld manager for the U.S, reeled otT the followlllg :.tatl~lic~: High Schonl. NCAA. NC2A ,LIld rdemng to the helllng pool lhal rel[lemhcrcd. Teams and Oversea!> inlernalional Eating IIlAtlanta was pricey. OlympiC. officl,lls had on 11IIW f"rCarl leWIS Ruter ran Irad In Indiana CompctlilOn. Ruter 100 1.. U.S, A hamhurgcr at the !>tadlum co~t Our interview with Mr. Ruter would Jump RUler"s c\\1I11al(' W.lS when he was in high school. He teams to France and Germany in $4.25. so did a hot dog. A beer took place on the 92° aflCrnoon the dosest without gOlllg over. so went from there to Western 1969 and 1975. was $6.00 and an ice cream $3,25. of August 7t h and as he was '" J won the money," Kc ntucky University where he "I ~pent one month traveling I! cost in excess of $600 to attend leaving the air conditi oned ofliee The [Winkl e never left played basketball. Then World through China in 1975, '" Ruter the o pen II1g and closi ng of The COIIIIIIlIIJ;ty SWlld(lr(/. he Ruter's eyes as he spoke l~as llall y War 11 started and he volunteered remembered, "That's the year I ceremonies. Tho Atlanta Jokingly remarked as he stepped of his cOll\crsatin n with U.S. for the N:lval Reserve Officers met George Bu.o; h." Ruter has Olympics was operated on a 1.7 o ut on to the steaming sidewalk. Olympic track s tar, Michael program. From there he received pictures from thi s trip taken of billion dollar budget of which "Oh, whm lovely weather we're J ohn~on. "John)'o n tho ught il a commission 10 Northwestern and himself with the future president sponsors paid 40 million apiece. T having'" and disappeared into Ihe . would he a good Idea to run him went 10 the South Pacific to serve of the U.S. Olympic Commillee. Shirts were $16 and $22 and an hot August sunshine. (Lewis) 111 the relay... " on board an allack personnel Dr. Leroy Walker. Olympic jacket was $75 to S80. Ruter le ft Monday. August Fern Creek resident Charlie auxiliary ship that carried marines Ruter returned to Asia for the The athletes were driven to the 12, to o ffi ciate at the Special RUler has fi rst hand Olympic onlO the beach. competitions in Tokyo. Japan and events in buses and their village OlympICS which is also being held informallon Occau:>.c he WlIS there Ruter lefl the servicc on Beijing, China in 1980. While was guarded by the U.S. Army. in Atlanta from August 15th to as a certlfied IT;l l; k and field March 3. 1946. there he took a two hour bus ride Security was light as it had to be, August 25th. The Special ofli cial. oolh al the 84 Los Angctcs "The Amateur Athletic to the Gretl! Wall of China. RUler said. During Ihe games the Olympics has 3500 athletes games and the 96 Atlanta games. Union was prevalent in Louisville In 1983 he took theAmerican officials were required to drink 16 representing 121 eountTl CS a nd The host country is re spo n ~ ible for III the sumlller of '46." Ruter said. Team to the Pan Am Games in ounces of water per hour. The participating in 19 sports, he providing all track and field So Ruter signed up and is now III Caracas, Venezuela and in 1991 water was furnished by Crystal said. officmls. so these games provided hiS 50th year of officiating. He is took the Pam Am TC3m to Spring Water and the soft drinks While he was home, Ruter Ruter with a chance 10 participate the President of the Kentucky Kin gston, Jamaica. by Coke.® acted as Grand Mar s~all In the In the OlympiC experience. Association of the AAU. There were 178 officials at Ruter 's personal all timc Fern Creek Festival Parade on Ruter becomes friends with "Now USA Track & Field is the 1996 games. These were favorite athletes are Willy August 8. Thinking ahead to this many of these athletes as a resul! the governing body for track and broken up into crews of 8 to 10 Davenport, Gold Medalist. 1968. event, Ruter quipped in his usual or hi s work , In defense of the USA field in this country." Ruter people per event. Ruter 3cted as the 19n. and 1976; Willie White who fine sense of humor, "I sure hope mens learn's silver TIled:!1 in the explained. assist:!nt coordinator of official s made the Olympic Team 5 limes, it doesn' t rain on my parade!" relay, he said , "They (the press) Ruter is administrator of the responsible for records, There and Wilma Rudolf. Charlie, no one could ever pick on people." Ruter continued. onicials for certification of the were [62 records est3blished Tmck and field IS only called rain on your parade! ~~ '"Tim Hardin had a good exchange officials in the USA. He has during the '% games in track and and a good hand off, he Just got orficiated most of the track and field including World Olympic and beat!" field competitions conducted in National records. Ruter leaned back in his chair this country over the past 50 years. Throughout his career. Ruter ( and with great pride and pointed His credentials include but are not has been awarded a gold watch 10 his Olympic belt buckle, hiS limited to: from Corella King for Outstanding • Olympic rain hat. one of his I) Field referee - 1984 Oflicial in 1983. the President's Olympic shirts. hiS Olympic ring Olympic games Award in 1983. and several hal[ of from the 1984 games in Los 2) ChiefUmpire - 1987Pan fame awards for track and field . • Angeles. and hi~ Olympic watch American games He has been the Meet Man:!ger and from the 1996 games, displaying 3) Chief Umpire - 1987 Public Address announcer for the the first Ihree mitials of every World Indoor games (conducted in Mason Dixon games since its partkipating country. These are tht RCA dome in Indianapolis) inception in 1961. some of the gifts he has reccived 4) All Olympic Trials - The gold medals awarded in for the countless hours he donates 1976, 1980, 1984. 1988, 1992. and track and field at the [996 games officiating the track and field 1996. went to Michael Johnson for the cvents of the Olympic games. Ruter stressed that although 200 and 400 meter, Carl Lewis for "We got to see several his expenses are now paid, all his the longjump, and Charles Austin baseball games; they let us in on officiating has been strictly on a for the high jump for men . our credentials. '" Ruter said, "1 saw volunteer basis. When asked if he "The official is the first word America play two games." Bul would like to be paid hcrcsponded. in measuring," Ruter explained, that's about all Ruter had time to "Heck yes!" "we used laser beams on the see. I-Ie was up every morning at Whe n he wasn ' t throwing events and the "Cyclops" 5:00 a.m. to have breakfast at the "officiating", Ruter worked as a orone eyed camera for the runner;. university where he stayed. th~n it teacher for the Jefferson County The "Cyclops" could usually wa.~ off to the games by 7:00 am. Publie School System from 1947 monitor the top foor," Ruter said. "You're my press agent. You te II me why PEOPLE alld I'm where he worked until 11:00 p.m. to 197-9, ending his career as Any disputes are then taken Nr Charles N Ruter Is In ------not! " I • , ( . , r I \ • • 1 • , <- ""T -~ ~ ..,r: 0 0 '"6'., ~ ~ c~ ~ "-0 f- • on .'0= ij ~ :2 l , 0 '"o · I M ~ -c >~ ~ '"'5 0 ~ ~ ~ , ~ • Boys State Basketball Tournament ... 2004 Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky "Official Scorers" .. Charlie Ruter (left). Ken Roeland (center). and Tom Curley (right) Ruter's final year after 41 years scoring. • • } • > ) . if ~ou hme ideas on the t~pe or clinics ~ou \\Quld like to attend during the Ol~mpic Trials next Stl1l11lll:L pass them along to either orus. \\'e \\ill ha\l: t\\O du~s of clinics. one on the Ttl~sda~ during do\\ ntime at the trials and one on an open morning, • 'I he annllal Training COI1lJllillee meeting \\as held on Wedne sda~, December 3, The discussion \\ns mosll~ abollt dinics. A le\\ ne\\ ideas did come up. Ilulcs Equipmcnt & Facilities S pccifi cations: We held our annual meeting at the comention \\ith about:25 attendees. George !,:leell/aJl. r'in! ('hair R"'n. Refired "ice ('hair TrailliJlj.! & (·"lIi,. I:.lJllipll/l!l1f <..t, • Faci/ifie .. SjJecifimfio/ll S'lIh~ColI/lI/iflee of fhe .\"aliOll£ll O/licia/,\ . COJ/1J11illee THE DEEP AND DARI( SECRETS OF BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE UMPIRE \\'kn J lir~t started ofiiciating as an umpire. there \\<1S a eOlllmon sa> ing tilat an>one can umpire - just grah some nags and station >oursl'ir on thc trad. This feeling continul.!s to e;>;:i~t as onicials arc onen placed in those positions regnrdless of training and 'or e;>;:pericnce. The> arl.! most otkn placed as \\arm bodies to fullill the needs for officials for the ~O() III hurdles. The problem is that it is ani> through experience as all umpire one can build the necessar> confidence to makc the calls in the "big meets," Continuing and specializing as an umpire, [qllickl~ round out that there are rules to bl:' applil:'d and certain skills need~d unlike thOSl' lor Held e\ ents. Ila\ ing bl'en il1\ 01\ ed in numerous National Ch,:unpionships at all lc\(::ls and often as Chid l lmpire. [ lind it eas~ to differentiatl: hel\\een excellence in perfonnalll.::e and a lack of 11I.;ce ssar> ski ll s. [n tact. compared to other e\ents. it is probabl> the most diflicult assignment. No other officiating joh requires as much concentration. stamina. and knowledge of track e\ents us that of" umpiring. ~rorn the .... 4It,.. beginning o f the race until the end. the umpires become the subjecti\e , \. "::\ .--' \~ illlerprl.!ters of the athletc's actions. E\er alert. Ihe umpire must kno\\" the .Q ..0 intent of the- rules or competition and their appropriate applications 10 the " .. situations. , ., :I It is the duty of the umpire 10 obsene the competition closcl> , The umpire is not there to lind bull or to call touls. but rather to insure a nlir competition. In the case of a possible loul or rule \ iolation h> a competitor or other person. the umpire is to indicate this by raising and holding lip a >dlo\\ flag until the Chief Umpire i.lckno\\ledgcs the incident. II II II .llsatfot"ticials.com 7 • • , , \\ \\ \\. U"Il1t fofficialli.co 111 ATRIBUTETO A FRIEND Since \H; II\ ' ~ III difii:rent p.ut:-. ofth~ !.:ountry. m) only cOntacts \\ IIh Charlie Ruter ha\ e ht.:enlimitcd to sc\cral NatiOll fhl"l unforgt:ttable character (lIsp!;.I) ell dedication and ... pint 10 hi ... rolL' on Ihe field which ha:. left an Indellhle imprint on our li\~s and \\ 11Ieh rubbed off on lllany orus. It made liS heller oirlclals. This perhaps has been his mosl siglllficanl contnbuliun. I fir .... ' met Charlie many )I.'ar.... ago .... en lIlg as an Lmplre undcr hIS Icadl.'rship al an NCAA Championship Trad Me\.!! in BulTalo. Nt.:\\ York. In olle race. a couple of runners gOI Iht:lr feet lang,kd and \\enl dO\\ 11. Charlte came O\t:r to me and ~hked \\ hal happened. I e\plallled that I dill not ralSC a ,dlm\ nag a ... a po~-;ihk \ IOIall0n sincc J (ould 1101 tdl lfone took rlacc due 10 "ome Icci 1ll\'!1"I."ly coming logclher. 1 (learly rC1llt:1llber Charlie pOlntl1lg at me and sa) l1lg "Good Call" which ha:-; ..,tuck \\ ith 111\.'. This 111Cld~1l1 sct Ihe fOllndallon of \\ hal I learned from Charll~ hcing ahk to C01lllllLIIll(ate orally and in \\ filing "haIlS seen and being able to idcnllfy a possible viol<1tion. Sinl"( thcn 1 ha\\.! \\OIled \\ llh Charlic al lIlan) ml.'Ch and con:-'Ider hl111 a good fnend. \hhl of the olTiClals I ha\-e \\orked \\ ilh 111 0\ l'r \1:\1) "iallonal or \\orld meets art: I ht.: rca I herot: .... of I h IS Sport q II iet. u nas"'U1ll1ng. ded ica Icd. com pelen I a nd norm al. SlIlIlcllO\\ t ht:sc adJI."Cll \ c: .... art: Inaccurale in lOla II) dcscnhing (-harllc. l() anyonc \\110 k110\\ ... h11ll and partu;ularl) III \ lC\\ of his 1<1l1lea11 framl' and hC;lring. Charlie cOllies aero ... s as a cancalurc. And "hal a scn .... ~ of humor! DUf1ng Ihe: cour... c ofa meet hIS \'e~rer sen iCl.:~. final hugs of \\Ome11 umpires and Ill'. mdhmj.., of g,1\ 111£ in ... lrlletl0ns 10 hi" leam arc hht11lg 11llage ... for those m~ riad oJficiab who haw \\orkcd \\ ilh him. The .... heer dillt of his personalily pUIS hllll in a class by hl1llSelf. Most oO'icials do a fine joh in tht:ir as'iigllI1lCllt. Ft.:\\. ho\\'e\ er, can abo be al the same lime a great teacher oflhe sport. 1 \\as fortunate enough to ha\e \\orked \\ ilh one. Fortha!. 1 say thank yOlI. Charlie. for mall) orus for providing the 1I1spiratioll 10 perform 10 Ihe besl ofnur ahilillc .... ltlakes a .... pt:cial person \0 do Ihat. [)I: Roherl \larell·... SOllfliel"l/ Cali/hmill . /swwimio/l ~ , .. \ ' \ ~ . • I ' I j '« Hugh Norman,Charlie Ruter. Andy Bakjian Joe WeibaumPhil liensen,Allan Steinreld and Ellzabeth Phillips , , ,~ ,r' '':''. ... ,.,- , 2003 DAWAHARES/KHSAA ..r_-/ Hall of Fame Induction Celebration YEAR-BY-YEAR CLASSES Class of 1988 Ralph Beard. Ralph Carlisle, L.J. 'Butch" Charmoh, Blanton Collier, Morton Combs. Ralph Dorsey, Gen Grigsby, Cliff Hagan. Clem Haskins, Bernard "Peck" Hickman, Stephanie Hightower-Leftwich, Paul Hornung. Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones, William Lee Kean, Roy Kldd. Frank lltkenhous, Garnls Martin. Mary T. Meagher. lether Norton, Joe Ohr. Homer Rice, S.T. Roach. Ted Sanford. J.w ~Splder' Thurman. John Bill Trivelle. Russ Williamson. Class of 1989 Butch Beard, Tommy Bell, Gay Brewer, Jerry Claiborne, Howard Cnllenden. E.A "Ed" Diddle, Stella Glib. Lyman Ginger. Delmas Gish. Bill Harrell. Clemette Haskins, Presion "Ty" Holland, Earle Jones. Harry Jones. Larry Jones. Kenny Kuhn, Lenny Lyles. Joe Billy Mansfield. lawrence McGinniS. Paulie Miller. Donna Murphy, Frank Ramsey. Bev Ramser Schechter. McCoy "Red" Tarry. Westley Unseld (Kelly Coleman· declined). Class of 1990 Roy Bowling. John BUff. Warren Cooper. Johnny Cox. Nick Denes. Sharon Garland. Jim Green. Darrell Gnfflth. Jane Meyer, John Oldham. Norman Passmore. Gene Rhodes. Mike Silliman. Jack , Thompson. Falrce Woods. , Class of 1991 Myra Van Hoose Blackwelder, Walter J Brugh. Mike Casey, Ernie Chal\ln. Jack L Coleman, Jim Connor. Bunny Daugherty. Bunny Davis. Jack Fultz. Tony Guffy. John G Heber. Bain "Tiny" Jones. Bob Keith. Ralph C. KimmeL Herbie Phelps. Sam Potier. Goebel Ritter, Forest ~Aggle' Sale. Howard L SChnellenberger. Barney Thweau. Bobby Watson Class of 1992 John "Sonny' Allen. Henry B Bell. Bowman "Bo" Davenport. Jeff Fitch. Elmer "Baldy~ Gilb, Joe G Gilly. K. Adele Gleaves Haswell. James Jeter, John Simms "ShlpwreciC Kelly. Bob Miller. Lee Tho· mas Mills, Terry Mills. Ed Mlfacle. Joan Mitchell. Pat Payne. Jim Phillips. Jim Pickens. George Sauer. Phil Simms. Oran C. Teater, Paul Young. Class of 1993 Stan Arnzen, Jimmy Bazzell. Billy Bird, CalVin Bird Jerry Bird Rodger Bird. Peart Combs, Don Gulleu. Joe Harper, Jack Hicks. Joe Jaggers, Jerry Kimmel. Ron King. Charley Lampley. JUlius "Jay· Lasslo. Charles Llvlsay, John McGilL Hardin Mclane, Rhonda McManus. Rice MountJOY, Bobby Rascoe. William Reed Charles Ruter, Guy Strong. Fleming Thornton. Nan Ward Class of 1994 Howard Beth. John "SCoop" Brown. Lyman Brown, Darrel Camer. Earl Cox, Hugh Durham. Harold "Bunky" Gruner. Jack Hall. Erf'lIe House. Ann Karnck, Sherman leWIS, Gary Mayrwleser, Berny MiUer, I Bob Mulcahy. liz Sadler, Kenny SidwelL George Taylor, Ray VenCill. Roy Winchester. (John Reynolds " deClined), • 7 / I • • by Contrlbullng p/IoIog,ItjI'* ~ULU OOVAHI Fern Creek's Charlie Ruter, left, retired last week after 41 years as scorekeeper for the Boys' State Tournament. His friend Tom Curley will continue to be ~ryl\ 9' the two scorers. (/ O{C § -TJ21Pi/ JJc-- tI!/1i.?L H P, 'Z-L7:."{ • • .. • , r '- .\.. -L 'L...... - Winte r 200~ T he Nati onal O ffi cials' Committee of US ATF Vol. VIII No, 1 USATF Offi cial is Iht' O ffic i:ll Ncw.;; le nc r of Ih t' Natio nal Offi cia ls' C{Immillce of CSA T F \,-lI'olr'f/,'r \ l!il'(IJlJIIIJI/f,' :I IIN II IIUII. ( IUlr: f ."I/Im,,: \ 1,11(: -"II<',·III/I/~(J -I fik. (, 1 I" I'n:l'I\ c 'h,,, 1l L' \ \ ... k· n~T e!t:Cf rontcdh . pk:,,,,!; l'm ;l1l: CIT' lkcrd(t1 ;1' ,J.co!1) and rellul "q TO hl pb n:d ( )11 fl ur J J ~ I ~I J{ \ , CHAIR' S MESSSAGE • Hdlo to All: It \\(b good 10 ::. ~~ lllan~ of ~ou at tht' I S.\Tr COl1\enti(m 111 (irt't'llsboro. "Iu(;h \\as 3CC{1Illpli silcd. thanl.;s to ;'0111' support. Pka ... c kct.'p in mind \\h(,11 sl'heduling ;.our lime olllll.,\t ;'I:.'ar. the 'ational COl1\cnlinn is in Portland. Orq;on. Ihis is;1I1 ck'l.:tion ;.car. and ;.our hdp i", needed again. \\'1.' \\(luIJ like our '\aliollal Oflicials' lllcetings 1110\ cd to I ri da~ and SaturdJ.~ \\ilh llur clinit: ... on Friday as \\-:11. This \\ill ix' mon: ct:\)!1omit:al and time lea ::. ibk for the ma.iorit~ or olYicials \\110 \\oulu like II) altend. I'\e cont ~ Kted the Portland Comelltion 'lIlU \'isilO!"S Bur..:-au and \\ill ba\ e more inll)rmatioll f(lr \OU in the n c \.tlh~\\ '"I k tt er. 11 is \\ ith great pkasun.. ' that thl.' Officials Committcl.' ('y, ! ' lllnOtJIll:I.' :-' Ill!: appointmelll of ~I r. Ch:ll"le~ Ruter as I 'onorar~ I lead L Illpirc al Ihc 2004 i l.S. ()I~ mpit: I rack and Field I rials. lie \\ ill be pr-:s-:nlcd \\ ith ::. p-:cial t: r-:denlials and ::.e , \11". Ruter (Charlic) \\as a I"uund ing official of \ \l ' 1"1"3d and I· icld in 1973. lie \\as ccrtified in 1974. and lor the pasl 37 ~ l'ars. has eontrihuled his kIlO\\ ledge and \;'\peni:-.e 10 Ihl.' hdlCnlll.'1lI of ollr ::' pOl"I. Please help us in congralulating Chari iI.' for ajoh \\cll don\;.'! I\~ mn\ all thosc thaI applied 10 \\ork our !\ .. lIi(lIlal Ch:lI11pionship ... hil\e hcl'l1 nOli lied. 538 onkials applied 10 oJ"tkiall.' our '\;lIioI131 Champioll ::. hips. I hanks In .111 Of~lHI \\ho sent in ~our applicati on and 10 I ~ inn Ilansl.·n \\ 11\) pro\'i(kd picturo.:s or e\ er>lJl1e \\Ih) \\orkt.'d any mel.:t thaI \\ ,1':> c\aluated. Th-: Sc1r.:t.:lioll committee had to makr.: SOIllI;' \cr~ difficult dl.' L'i s i()n ~. \\ e recei\ed help from t-.kn and \\·omen· ... J rack Jnd Fi eld. as \\ell as. 1'1\)111 thc at hi etc.... tht.·m <., r.:h es. II" ~ ou ha\ e questions about ~ our :.eiL'ction 'nonselcction - I ,1111 '\.0 r the person 10 con!al'l. The C(ltll;ll'I pl.'r ... ol1 is Ra~ J' ilLhugh. Chair \rrl.'als Seb:liol1 Committe .... 4991 YI.',trling .\\c. - l]"\il1e. C\ 9~6 () 4 . Your i nquir~ must be in \\riting. ~ Lncln\ed in this nl.>\\ sleller Jrc the li ::. ls of those \\ ho ha\e bccn sl.'it.'t.:tcd to C fIIIIi" J oflit:iale l)ur Championships this ~e J r: if ~Oll hi.l\e Jn~ questinns t:ontact RJ~ Fit/hugh or an~ memher of his 1'0nllllillec. (Did Connor",. \\'in ~ I.' ggers. "'11mill Griggs. LCll f.:..rsak. 1-. lIgenc Stemm). ~ .10 1lt' If ' I/T<,II n ll1 /'" 1",'(I("fi" d u{ -3111.\". II Iii r ':I" .. \f{ (lIIII. rL 33 155- /5'''- /'limit' Fax 3 (J.' -_' Ii 1-"/,\ 6.\ 1. 111<11/ rfJ. ',I{,II/,' J • • • • • • NAHS alumni grants r , • TRIBU'IE PHOTO BY TRACY CONNELL Members of the NAHS Alumni Memorial Fund reviewed requests for mini-grants from several teachers to supplement available tax monies. These grants fund activities thai might not otherwise be possible. The alumni association members listen to a request from assistant principal Janet Page, from left, Ed Rouck, Greg Neely. Bill Ryall, Don Sod rei, Charles Roger and Kay Lutz. • , • • • t " • • Jul y, 1998· The Fern Creek News-Leader' Page 11 Leader Awards for 1998 The most imporlant function of I-Icri lage Days to recognize special people who have made, and continue 10 make unique contributions in our community. The awards arc special because the nominations come from the people in our community which lITC brought before a select panel of the Hcri lagc Days Committ ee. One of the award winners will also be inducted into the Fern Creek Hall of Fame where thei r pictu re will be displayed in a place of honor al the Fern Creek Library OUT Leader award wi nners will be honored at a gala banquet. Tuesday, July 14,7:00 p. m. at Fern Creek Baptist Church Christian Life Center, 5920 Bardstown Rd. Special guest Speaker will be County Clerk and Candidate for County Judge Executive Rebecca Jackson. E.ntertainmcnt will be provided by Kri st in Iiale. The Heritage Festival Committee and the News-Leader wish to thank all those who nominated the many good neighbors and friends who make contributior.s to our lives every day. The Heritage Festival Days festi"al Committee is thus pleased to an nounce the fo ll owing for the 1998 Leader Awards: Bill Ro binson Noble H. Clark Carolyn Sims Charlie Ruter Russ Gibson ./ • ..L A rcsidcnt of Fern Creek since 1973, Occk Phannacy 10 a Russ Gibson wi ll foreve r be notcd ~ Bill's cootri bu tions are many. Active Iongtimeresidcnt ofr-em Creekanda community activists in Fern Creek the man who brought pride back to in his church, coach of Fern Creek warnl smile inevitabl, breaks out on toWy. JusI alxlut anycivicOfl:?nir..ttion world as " /he ambassador of Fern FernCrrek High School athletics. RlSi Utt le League teams for eight years, his or her face. Noble Clark opened doing something to he lp in o ur Cfl.-ck. " deliberately took the long time losing served as President of Fern Creek Fern Creek Pharmacy in 1954 and rommuni ty, Carolyn joins and helJli. Working for Jefferson Count y football program at Fern Creek High EJe men tary PTA and of Fern Creek oper-.ued the family owned bu.<;incss She belongs to the Fern Creek Schools, Charlie became involved SchooIandtumeditaroundtoa major High School PTA among may other until 1989. Chamber of Commerce, Fern Creek with the AAU and became noted for powerhouse and to p ranked contributions. In the days before coTJXIrate mega Rotary Q ub, Fern Creek Busincssl his work in creating and cenifying recognition. It is Bill's light to save Fern Creek pharmacies, Fern Creek Pharmacy was Neighborh ood Associatio n, Easter official s at track meets, a new idea at Russ also developed the innovative High School when the School Board a place where fricndship, good will, Star, Buechel Chapter, Fe rn Creek the time. This involvement got hi m HealttvFitnC&<;OlTCCrprogramandthe voted to close it in 198 1 that Fern and personal caring were ~ much a Woman's Oub, libmysvoluntecr and involvedwith theOly mpics, Goodwili Traditional Opt ion ProgrIlITl at Fern Creek owes gratitude to him to this parl of helping the sick along with the the li'il gocson. Gamesandothermajortmckandficld Creek ~ I i g h School, has written day. Bill's success in rall ying the phannaceutical drug> they dispensed. Carol not o nl y joins these events. In the wide world of SfXlns. nu lTlCl1)US art icles on hca lt h/Well~ community to save the school was a A strong supporter of Fern Creek, organizations but is a active leader O\arIie isa majoreontributorand well strength trai ning and has two patented hislory making event oblecould always becounted on for serving as President, Secretary and koown around the world weight li lling devices. This year Fern Creek High School donations, oontributions and support otherofflcialpositions. A man woo rubselbO\vswith the rich, ASlrongsupporterandsponsorofthe celebrated 75 years of service, the for the many schools. churches and Along with all th i<; Carolyn can be f.unousand p:w.crful. Ot.vlie remains FellowshipofOlristianAthletes, RlL..... oldest highschool in Jefferson County. civic groups reaching out 10 help. found with husband Or. Sims at Sims the simple man from Fern Creek, sp:mso~oneo ft he strongest and most ;::Th.;;;~;;;_:· ;;;;nca:·;;; I CV~'~"I~WOO;;~' d:;;:",,~'~"~' ~"'~''~ '~~N~ob:"~a:::;"",;;;,,,,=· ~"~I~;;;,xam~~PI~'~tI;,,.,~_;!!~;, ~~=A~"~;m!1:"~'~H~O~'~P~;.i"~'"W!!h:h']'~';;;'h~,~; s;.:a_~p~",";;;;",~;";g~th;,;:va;'~"~ ContinuL'tl from Page CI er at Okolona High Sehool before go· for international tri ps. ing to Fern Creek in 19.J8. lie spent ··We love and respect Charlie a lot. only six other Kentuckians and 269 CHARLES RUTER six years as thc boys' basketball He's a great ambassador fo r the Unit othcr people in it. He']] be one of 10 80rn: July 3, 1920. coach there before becoming athletic ed States and a great asset fo r USA inducteeS in the hall's 19th class to High s chool: New Albany, direaor at Eastern High. Track and Field to have on our side." nigh t as the 82nd annual summer Ind. (participated in basketball, He evcntuall y became assistant Ru te r has scrved as an official for meetings of the National Federation baseball. track). principal at Eastern and spent some two Olymp ics and every major compe· of State l ligh School Associations College: Western Kentucky time on the ccnt ral staff of t hc Jeffer tition in the United Slates at one time come to an end. University. son County Public Schools before reo or another. He also was vice president "Just to be considered up there M_jor a ccomplis hme nts: til;n~ in 1979. of the U.S. Track and Field Associ with the people who are in this thing "I ve been around." he said. ation from 1976-96 and was adminis is amazing." Ruter said. "Every ath Track and field official tor two Ruter has been the official scorer trator of eenificat ions for traek offi letic hero America has ever known is OIymptc Games: vice preSIdent of for the boys' State Basketball Tour· cials throughout the country. in this one. I'm just really touehed by US. Track and Fietd ASSOCIation: nament for the past 38 ,Years and for "We had 67 officials." Ruter re the whole thing:' offiCial for every major U S. com the girls' tournament SlOce 1992. He called. ··When we finished we had Ue will be the first official from his pelmon at one time or another, 01- was the publ ic·address announcer. 8.200. We educated people, and we state indueted. The Kentuckians al licia! scorer lor boys' Sweet 16 referee and ficld judge for the State tried to get thent excited. ready en~hrined arc Geri G ri ~stiy. Cliff SInce 1965; official scorer for gIrls' Track and Field meet for 45 years. "Irs all worked out rea ll y well fo r Hagan, Pa ul Uornung. GamlS Ma rt in. Sweet 16 Since 1992; Kentucky He also was official scorer fo r the me. I've been to every state and tak S. i. RO for international trips. . er at Okolona High School before go "We love and respect Charlie a 1~1. Continued from Page Cl mg to Fern Creek in 1948. He spent He's a great ambassador for the Untt· CHARLES RUTER six ears as the boys' . basketba.1J ed States and a great asset f o~ U~;o\ only six other Kentuckians and 269 coach there before becommg athletIC Track and Field to have on our. s.lde. other people in it. He'll be one O,r !O Born: July 3, 1920. director at Eastern High. . Ruter has ser.'ed as an ?fhclal for High school: New Albany, l1 e eventually became assistant inductees in the hall's 19th class to two Olympics a~d ev~ry major co~pe Ind . (partiCi pated in basketball, night as the 82nd .annual s um~er principal at Eastern and spent som~ titian in the Untied State~ at one .Hme meetings of the NatIOnal Fed~ra~lOn baseball, track). time on the central staff of the Jeffel or another. He also was vice pres l de~\ son County Public Schools before re- of State lIigh School ASSOCiations College: Western Kentucky of the U.S. Track and Field As~O~ I come to an end. University. tiri ng in 1979. . ation from 1976-96 and was admml~' "Just to be considcr~d ur th~rc Major accomp~i s hments: "I've been around." he smd. trator of certifications for track offl· Ruter has been the official scorer with the people who are In IhlS thmg Track and field offiCial lor two cials throughout the country. is amazing." Ruter said. "Every al~' Olympic Games: vice presi~e~t 01 for the boys' State Basketball Tou( "We had 67 officials." Ruler reo letie hero America has ever known IS U.S. Track and Fie ld Association; namen! for the past 38 'years and for called. "When we finished we had in Ihis one. I'm just really touched by ol1icial tor every major U.S. com the girls' tournament SlOce 1992. He 8.200. We educated. people, and we was the public-address announcer; the whole thing." . . . petition alone time or another; 01- tried to get them excited. He will be tne first offIcial f!orn hIs fici al scorer for boys' Sweet.1~ referee and field judge for the State "It's all worked out really wen for state inducted. The K~ntu~klans ~1· since 1965; ol1icial scorerfOf gIrls Track and Field meet for 45 years. me. I've been to every state and t a~· ready enshrined are Gen Gngsby, CI,lff Sweet 16 since 1992; Ken lucky He also was official scorer for the en teams to Russia, Germany: Jamal ' "Iagan Paul Homung, GamLs Ma rtm. Colonels' official SCQfer; scorer tOf Kentucky-Indiana All-Star basketball ca Caracas, a month to Chma an4 games (rom 1958·76, fo r the ~en S. T. ROaCh and William Kean. . " every NCAA Tournament game other. places. " . ' "Charlie is sort of an. Icon, ever played in Freedom Hall. . tucky Colonels of the old Amen can Among his fondest memones are a KHSAA commissioner loUiS Stout Other honors: Inducted IOta Basketball Association and for every trip to China in 1975, when he met said. " He's so well-known and ~o the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall ot NCAA Tournament game played m future President George Bush, and.a well-respected. He's just.a very bl Fame, the Kentucky Gross Coun Freedom HalL . two-week journey to th e Far East 111 And he has worked every game m part of the ~ery.tucky .HI~h School try and Track and Field Coaches 1980 as manager of the U.S. te~ml' Athlelic AssooatlOn family. . . Association Hall of Fame and the the 54-year history of the boys Lou One meet in Peking was the fIrs Assistant KHSM COll,'lmlssloners NAIA Hall of Fame. This year he isville Invitational tournament. . matchup between .the ~ ni ted State~ "That's a lot of games." he said. "I Brigid DeVries and Julian Tackett will be inductoo into Ihe NaHonal and the Soviet Unton smce th.e U.&! and several members of th~ board ~~ Hi gh SchOol Sports Ha 11 of Fame, think that's one of my froude~t f a~!s , team boycotted the 1980 Olymp:lcs. control are among those. In J:lawall the longevity of some 0 the thmgs. " I had to decide who carned th~ Ihe Kentucky Athletic Hall .0' F~me But "his high school and c?llege for the ceremonies. Ruler IS being ac American flag in the O p~ntry.g cere and the Metro Area AthletIC Direc contributions pale compared Wl t ~ hIS companied by his wife of 57 yea r~, tors Hall 01 Fame. monies," Ru ter recalled. ' ThIs yo ung Ruth, who saId: "Over the yc.ars he s accomplishments in track and field, athlete came up to me and m.ade a done his thing and I do mine: ~ut where he is one of the be:.t-known request. It was Edwin Mos~s. I I,~me· and most-respected officials in the he's been a lot of places, and thIS IS a say 57 years. but we haven't been to· diately said, 'No probl~m . Tiger. great honor for him." . world. . I Looking back on hIS career, Ruter gether near that long. I' ve traveled all "He's the quintessential vo unteef Ruter credits much of his ~uccess over theworld." said: " \ want to be r ~iJ.le mb ~red as a to his wife. who is involved In local for USA Track and Field," chief ~x very professional of.flcwl: I Just want Ruter a New Albany High School ecutive officer Craig Mesb.ack .sald. charity work. , graduate, played basketball fo~ Ed to do a very profeSSIOnal Job at what- "She's says she's the reason I ve "He's always there for us m hIS ca Diddle at Western Kentucky UnIVer pacity as an official and team leader ever it is I'm doing." 1 lived so long." he said . "~eople ask sity. He started his career as a teach- how long I've been marned, and I Just another shrining year in the life of Charlie Ruter By JODY DEMUNG unnoticed. Ruter al ready is in three halls The Courier·Journal of fame and will be inducted into three more this year, starting wi th tonight's Charlie Ruter will turn 81 on Tuesday. ceremonies for the Na tional Hi gh School but the longti me contributor to high Sports Ha ll of Fame in Mau l. Later he school athlel1cs and globetrotting track will be enshrined in the Kentucky Athlet and field official isn't slowing down. ic Hall of Fame and the Metro Area Ath· The Fern Creek resident has been to letic Directors Hall of Fame. all 50 states and severa l foreign co un ~ " Tal k about the jackpot." Ruter said. tries. Twice in the past mo nth he went to " I've hit three of them in one year." Eugene, Ore., and this weekend he's in Though all three are special. he said, Hawaii fo r the fi fth time. the NatIOnal High School Hall of Fame " I have to keep, going," Ruter said. "[t "is very humbhng" because there are keeps me young .. BY MArlY ANN LYONS THE COURIER.JOURNAL The hundreds of thousands of miles he See ANOTHER Longtime official Charlie Ruter has logged over the years haven't gone Page 7, col. 3, this section soon will be in six halls of fame. C~- ?~J-O J N0TI!800K .. ' Ruter is named to high school Hall of Famt¥~ ,~ .. ~ By JODY DEMLI NG Chartie Ruter, State sele<:tion, sel Ballard's ca reer John Koisa but had never made i( '10 The Courier-Journal 79, ha. been the scoring record with 102 goals. The the 12th Region final in his 13 years a.f Bruins lost to South Oldham in the the school. The school's only oIlfti1 Charlie Ruter. a lo ngtime contribu -,for the boy.' sectional final this past fall. trip to the final was in 1979 - beiore tor to high school sport s. will become Sweet 16 for 38 Rich picked Alabama o'·er Tulane any of the cumm players were born: .... , the fifth Kentuckia n to be inducted years and also and Iowa State. "From the beginning. they rd Wyl into the National Federation of High is known for his thought they could (win the titlerl"l: School Associations Hall of Fame. work •• an ...... o ...nl .... Kolasa told the Advocate Messentffj RUler. 79. a former Western Ken· offiCial tor track Greenwood has fill ed a job open· " They didn't wish they could 8ntf1 tucky Universi ty basketball player. and fiekl events, ing, while Owensboro Catholic is hope they could: they really be li ~ has been involved with h igh school including the look;"Il. it could happen." , at hletics fo r 54 years and has been Olympics. Mark Nelson has been named The Patriots (27·5). who won thef the official scorer for the boys' football coach at Greenwood. replac Ihree regional games by an ave ri~ Sweet 16 for the past 38 years. pelition in the United States al one ing Greg Ulasiewicz. of 14 points, will face Hendersonl "1 didn't know about this," said ti me or another. Ruter also was vice Nelson is a 1982 Western Ken· County in the first round of \1;Ie' Ruter, who was informed of the hon president fo r Ihe U.s. Track and tucky graduate who played football Sweet 16 on Thursday in Bowlrftg' or Wednesday in front of 14 ,000 fans Field Association and from 1976 to for the Hilltoppen . He spent four Green'S E.A. Diddle Arena. . • , at thc Sweet 16 in Lexington's Ru pp '96 was the administralOr of cenifi years as an assistant coach at Pon· -' Arena. " I was very surprised, but cations for track offi cials in the U.S. land, Tenn., and for the past II years VIctory ChrIetIen '.:1'. when I was out there (al center Ru ter - who also was the Ken has been an assistant and associate victorious In KCAA .. Jt \ court) I started thinking, 'Fifty-four tucky Colonels' official scorer and head coach at Westmoreland. Tenn. Victory Christian Academy won t ~ j years is a lo ng time.' " was the scorer for every NCAA Owensboro Catholi c is looking for Kentucky Christia n Athletic Ass b~I G Ruter, who will attend the July I Tournament game held in Freedom a girls' basketball coach after Bruce ati on basketball title last weeken f On ' lh~ -job tramlng is th ~ only m~lhod officials have of m ~ t ~ r s of the decathlon on a Friday afternoon. Th~ fact that l~a rn ing how to do what th~y do. "W~'r~ d~finite l y not keeping track-and-field officials are not r~ im bu rsed for their t i m~ or Volunteers help events run smoothly up with training officials in this country," Jimmy Carnes, ~xpen ses ~xcept on i nfr~qu~ nt occasions un doubtedly turns away presid~ nI of Ath letics Congress and nack-and·field coach for the many people who otherwise might li k ~ to do it. " W~ need m o r ~ .. lUCIA ...... School in Cleveland, Ohio . 1980 US Olympic t~a m , said . " We don't have the probkms in offi cials. There's no qu~ st io n about that," Ruter said. H&R Slat! Wnter He also was a track and 'I love track. It gets track and fi~ld as you have in some ot her sports that ar~ mor~ Until 1968, t h ~r~ was no national organizat ion under which cross country coach for 25 DECATUR - Officials vol subj~ctiv~, like diving and gymnastics, becaus~ track and fi~ l d is a t ra c k ·an d·fi~ld officials w ~ re grouped. There was no national years . . unteering at the USA Masten a little hot outside sport that is a matter of time and di s t anc~." certification and no standardized test fo r officials. Then, G~o r ge Outdoor Track and Field Miklavcic described the es pite the rather simplistic nature of the sport - th~ rac~ Wilson of Falls Church, Va., began organizing officials und ~r the sornetirnes,buttltis event in positive light. Championships find their a goes to the fastest runner - th ~re ar~ still problems and banne r of th~ Amateur Athletic Union in an effort to provid~ "It's a nice type of event to efforts as a way of supporting . mistak~s in the officiating proc~ ss that ar~ frust rating for some standardization of test ing procedures and cert ification . Th~ is a good event to be athletes of all kinds o( D a sporl they love. see the athl~t~ s and ~ mbarrassing for th~ officials. At three major organization is not as co mpl~t~ as it could be, but al l~a s t now ages. It's people ~ Most of the people here nice to see indoor meets last wint ~ r, mistakes by offic ials deprived athletes of there is a standardized t~ s t for all Athl ~t i cs Congress officials _ involved with.' competing at this level or the are dedicated to the sport," records, on~ of t h ~m a world r ~co r d. with separate standardized t ~s t s fo r ~ach ~v~ nt - and a c ~nt r a l said Charlie Ruter; an national championship." Pole ·vault~ r Earl Bdl tw ic~ was victimized by mis· offic~ responsible fo r c~rtificatio n of officials. Ruter is brothers, long-time announcer at the event from Jlt PI'" 1IIIcIII ...... Two m ~as urem~nts in a span of ~ight days. At a meet in San responsible fo r that cert ification. track enthusiasts, acted as Fern Creek, Ky. "This is a net-- _ ...... , 'd Francisco's Cow Pala c~, Be ll thought h~ had bcrome the fi rst &coming a track ·a nd -fi~l d official in th~ Athletics Cong r~ ss is officials (or the meet. I way the volunteers can give man to c1~ar 18 feet in that building. But when the bar was r~ not that difficult. All it t ak~s is an int~rest in the sPOT! or a Gilbert and Mack Holmes B m ~as ur ed, it came oUI to only 17 ' 10 \1". Th~ n~xt week~nd in recommendation from anoth~r official, th ~ ability to pass an back to the sport. named in his honor. or 8t. Louis both wanted to Madison Squa r~ Garden, Bell thought he had deared 18' I" un til open·book t~s t on officiating procedures and Athletics Congr~ss Ruter, 84, recalls his days of "These are all former ath give back to the sport that a rem~asu r~m cnt showed the bar positioned at 18' 2Vi". rul ~s of track and fi~ l d, plus S5 for an official's card . Experien c~ running track at his high letes who love the sport and they've followed since their At the Runner's World Indoor Classic, Norway's Gr~t~ Waitz school in New Albany, Ind. He want to maintain good. physi is not a n ~cess ity . "BUT," Ruter said, "the people you get as high school years. was deni~d a world record in the 3000 meters because of an officials arc either coaches or people who are interested in track ran the 400 meters on cinder cal condition. The event "I think the event is a good. official's error which forc~d h~ r to run on~ lap too many. Th ~ and field and know something about it." tracks, including hurdles. improves their health, and thing and that they should official appar~ntly becam~ confused by Waitz lapping th ~ slower Ruler said he has been offi· the biggest thing about the There ar~ three cat~go ri es of officials: Association, National have more like it. It's good to competitors and failed to lurn t h ~ lap card ahead fo r her after and M ast~rs. Th~ Association official is on the lowest rung of th~ ciating track since 1947 a nd event is the camaraderie of get the older generation turning it back for the trailing runn~rs . After the race, a disconso· officiating hierarchy. He wor ks only m e~ts within the association bas recently orriciated at the coming to a national meet active a nd involved," said l at~ Waitz said s h ~ probably could have run at least two seconds 2004 U.S. Olympic Track" because everybody knows of whic h h~ is a m~m b~ r and acts primaril y as an assistant to a Mack, a marshal who keeps fast~ r , had she been given t h ~ opportunity to sprint the last lap. Na tional official in any ~v~ nt . The r~spons ib i1ity for conducting Field Team Trials in Sacra everybody and can renew people off of the track. " It 's un conscionable that something l ik~ that could happen at a each part icular event is g i v~n to a Na tional official. of which t h ~ r ~ mento, Calif. their friendships." Gilbert is an official that meet of that caliber ," one runner at th~ meet said. " I've seen that are 7SO in this country. To b«om~ a National official. an indi "All officials working the Also from Kentucky, Frank monitors the high and long happen in th~ IO,OOO-meter races (on the track) where you have a vidual must hav~ s~rv~d as a ce rtified Association official fo r at meet are certified by the Miklavcic, a hi-tech worker jump, pole vault, shot put, lot of peo pl ~ being lapped. But usually it 's th~ s l o w~r runn~rs wh o least 10 m~et s ov~r tWO years and r ec~iv~ d a passi ng grad~ on all national governing body," for the event, said his job is to javelin, as well as several end up running one lap too many or on~ lap too few, not the thos~ meets . To become a Masters official, of which there a r ~ 405 Ruter said. help make the meet run other events. l ~ad~r . " in the US, an individual must hav~ served as a National official Because of Ruter's love for smoothly. He said he uses "I love track. It gets a little "P~op l ~ mak~ mistak~s," Rut ~r, who has be~n officiating for three y~ars or more, working at least three compet itions a year track, an award has been computer technology to print hot outside sometimes, but track and fi eld for 28 y~ars, said. " An ybody can mak ~ a mistak~ . named after him, the Charles out results quickly and effi with satisfactory evaluations in all meets. this is a good. event to be But if o n~ of our officials continuall y mak~ s mistakes, he just M . Ruter Award. The award is ciently. " It tak~s at least fiv ~ to 10 years of actual officiating to ev~ n be involved with," Gilbert said. won't be assigned to work meets. W~ are continuall y reviewing presented to the Outstanding Miklavcic also participated conside r ~ d for t h ~ Masters category," Ruter said. Mas t ~rs th~ performanees of our officials. The peo ple doing that are the officials normally are the onl y officials chosen to work national Track Official of the Year. A in track in his high school Alicia $pales can be reached aJ cert ification cha ir m~n in ~a c h of our 60 associations around t h ~ and int ~ rn at i on al meets. " Th ~ first thing the Russians ask yo u track at Western Kentucky days. He did pole vaulting for [email protected] count ry; w~ hav ~ o n ~ eert ification chairman in each association. wh~n th ~y get to an international meet is, ' Ar~ all your officials University also has been two years at Saint Joseph High 41J.()9J5. Th~ big catch is getting a guy in a local association to be a good cert ified by th~ national gov~rnin8 body? ' " Rut ~r add~d . certification official. Some of our associations ar~ not cov~r~d Timers, referees and officials working on juries of appeal because we can't find anybody d~dicated ~nough," Ruter said. g~n~ral1y have many y~ars 'of ~xpe ri ~nc~ officiat ing track and That means th~ officiating is much b~tt~r in some ar~as of t h~ fie ld. It is not uncommon for an i nt~rnational m~et r~f~ r~e to country than in others - for exampl~, N~w England, California have at least 30 years' experience. and Or~gon are strong. Th~ qualit y of officiating, th~n, is often election of officials for national meets is determined by the d~pend~nt on th~ dedication and ~xpertis~ of th~ certification competiton's location. That is, a meet in San Francisco will official for a particular association. S be worked by officials from t h ~ Pacific Association of the "W~ g~ t criticism, and I h at~ to say iI, but som~ of it is Athletics Congress, a meet in l os Angeles by officials from th~ d~s~ r v~d," Georg~ N~wlon , chairman of the Pacific Association Sou t h~rn Pacific Association. Officials for the US Olympic Trials of Athletics Congress serving t h ~ San Francisco area, said . A marathon in Buffalo. N. Y.• last mont h came from the Buffalo track·and·field official for 27 y~a r s , Newlon is also a form ~r ar~a. And t h~ majori ty of I h~ officials who will work t h~ US competitor; he ran a 4: 17.6 mile as a jun ior at Colorado Stat~ Olympic Tri als in Eug~ n ~, O r~., later this month will co m ~ from University in 1933. the Oregon Track Club. " L~t 's fac~ it," the Pacific Associat ion's "W~ hav~ some people in our own association who epitomiz ~ Newlon said, " it 's lik ~ any oth~r business; there's a pecking the image people have of the know-it ·all AAU officials, " Newlon ord~r. 8y t h~ same token, if t h ~r~'s a big m~ et in our area w~ said, "but most of us are not that way. Most of us ar~ d~dicat~d won 't invite officials from other areas." and do it for th ~ love of the sport. Our job is th~ h~ lp th ~ kid s. One of the reasons for using a preponderance of officials from W~ ' r ~ not coach~s. W ~' r ~ not there to c riticiz~ or ~ven giv~ an the Oregon Track Club for th~ Olympic Trials, Ruter said, is that opinion . It 's a labor of lov~, period. most of th~m have work ~d th~ Trials before and ar ~ wel1-v~r sed in "I'm as t o und~d at th ~ mon ~y I spend ev~ r y year t r av~ lin g to th ~ procedures. track meets. You hav~ to bear in mind that w~ ar~ not paid. w~ For the Olympic Games and other intern ational me ~ts held might get some mi l ~ag~ occasionally, bUI it in no way offsets th ~ outside t h~ US, officials are not necessaril y chosen on t h ~ basis of number of mi l ~ s w~ driv~. Now, if w~ gOt sev~ ral hund r~d dollars ability. Som~times it's po li tics and o th ~ r times it's pu r~ l y a matt ~ r li k~ football and basketball officials, it might be different. You of money. " Officials ar~ oft~n chosen on the basis of wh~t h ~ r might see mor~ and bett ~ r officials." they can pay their own way," N~wlon said. " I think that's kind To be a trac k·and·field official, one must be either incredibly of cra ppy. That's a sad comm~ nl ary on things, I know, but that's dedicated, independently wealthy or both. It takes time and th~ way thi ngs ar~. A lot of times you g~t th~ rich~st, and not the dedication to be one of three timers for ~ach runner in the 1500 best, officials." 54 RUNNER'S WORLD I June 1980 ...., . - .- •9. 9 • I • • I ,I I . , • ~I LEAGUE RES U L T S won lost l. Griffin's Gazelles 9 1 2 . Libby ' s Lakers 8 2 3. Kirkpatrick ' s Knicks 6 4 4. Boden t s Beers 3 7 5. Smi th I s Stars 3 7 6. Coleman ' s Cougars 1 9 r • as track/field official at Atlanta Olympics INSIDE ••• CeVtt ' Stt" pa,. S VI PS Family ,et,.at pa,.6 P,i ... m.ml,iaUz.4 at y.a,s I't.r his 4.ath pa,.8 The Lunch Bunch "isits Mancino's page 2 Historic buildings in Fern Creek to be razed page 16 Charlie Uuter poses in rront of the Olympic nag. all decked out in his official Atlanta Olympics attire. Ruter has bet'n a volunlt"er truck and fidd onidal at both the gaJll~ in Los Angeles in 84, und this yeur in Atlanta. He sure to read all about his uni(IU~ experiences in the story on pa~e 5.