IBCA E-Newsletter

Congratulations to the Roy Gardner Award Winner: Ron McGriff, Whiteland

Ron McGriff of Whiteland is the winner of the 2026 IBCA Roy Gardner Award.

McGriff started officiating in 1978, shortly after he graduated from Southwestern High School in Shelby County. In the ensuing years, he called 33 sectionals, 24 regionals, nine semi-states and four State Finals in boys’ basketball in an officiating career that covered 40 years. His boys’ title games were in 2001 (4A), 2009 (1A), 2014 (2A) and 2018 (3A). He also worked 25 sectionals, 19 regionals, nine semi-states and three State Finals in 30 seasons of girls’ basketball. His girls’ title games came in 1998 (1A), 2001 (2A) and 2008 (1A).

From an officiating family, McGriff noted a career highlight was working the consolation game of the 2008 girls’ Hall of Fame Classic with his father, Roger, and brother, Mike.

McGriff received a Circle Center Officials Award from the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2022. He also was presented with a Hardworking Hoosier Award from Indiana state representative Michelle Davis in October 2024.

A member of the Mid-Hoosier Officials Association and the Indiana Officials Association, McGriff worked 10 years as a clinician and assisted in the mentoring programs for both associations. He also served as an official in baseball, softball and football over the years.

McGriff competed in basketball, baseball, track and cross country in high school, leading the Southwestern basketball team in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and rebounds as well as earning all-conference and all-county accolades in baseball. He matriculated to Franklin College, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1984. He went on to a long career with Duke Energy, retiring on Dec. 31, 2025 after 38½ years with the company.

These days, he enjoys time with family, vacationing, walking his dog, gardening and cutting wood.

McGriff and his wife, Diana, have three adult children – Danielle, Jamie Jo and Daniel.

IBCA/ROY GARDNER AWARD

Roy Gardner was a basketball official who was a math teacher for 34 years at Batesville High School. He coached basketball at Westland, Rising Sun and Batesville as well as track, baseball and golf at Batesville, with his teams capturing numerous championships. As an official, Gardner worked the 1955, 1956 and 1959 State Finals. He also officiated in the Big Ten from 1959 through 1969, and he called the East-West College All-Star Games in Hinkle Fieldhouse in 1968 and 1969. Gardner was born in 1919 in Lawrenceburg, lettered in basketball and track at Ball State University and passed away in 1977. He was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. The IBCA has presented an award to an outstanding basketball official in Roy Gardner's name since 1978.

• 1978: Lowell Smith, Palmyra
• 1979: Wayne Van Sickle, Richmond
• 1980: Troy Ingram, Richmond
• 1981: Jerry Larrison, Indianapolis
• 1982: John Lozier, Logansport
• 1983: Rich Boer, Gary
• 1984: Jim Wehsollek, Alexandria
• 1985: Jerry Petro, Franklin
• 1986: Roger DeYoung, Hebron
• 1987: Jesse Lynch, Indianapolis
• 1988: Bob Marcinek, East Chicago
• 1989: Melvin Redmond, Mt. Vernon
• 1990: Steve Cherry, Pendleton
• 1991: no award given
• 1992: Richard Cook, Michigan City
• 1993: Jim Cox, Jonesboro
• 1994: Mike Bohan, Brownsburg
• 1995: Bill Wulner, Lawrenceburg
• 1996: Bob Beeson, Connersville
• 1997: Jerry Cook, Elkhart
• 1998: Norm Hathcoat, Pendleton
• 1999: Steve Fisher, Poseyville
• 2000: Rick Owens, Lynn
• 2001: Larry Maxwell, Martinsville
• 2002: Larry Jones, Logansport
• 2003: Bill Nimnicht, Evansville
• 2004: Jimmy Dimitroff, Indianapolis
• 2005: Garry Leistner, Dubois
• 2006: Ken Gorrell, Franklin
• 2007: Jerry Taylor, Lafayette
• 2008: James Dunlap, Newburgh
• 2009: Don Nester, Indianapolis
• 2010: Larry Nixon, Veedersburg
• 2011: Mark Baltz, Zionsville
• 2012: Bob Anderson, Indianapolis, and Ray Tebbe, New Palestine
• 2013: Mike Waisnora, Crown Point
• 2014: Terry Magnuson, Greenwood
• 2015: Rex Nichols, Mooresville
• 2016: Jason Ferguson, Whiteland
• 2017: Tom Rohr, Montezuma
• 2018: Tom Walters, Indianapolis
• 2019: Mike Eason, Cumberland
• 2020: Jay Slater, Sullivan
• 2021: no winner named (winner from 2020 honored in 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic).
• 2022: Mark Wise, Crown Point
• 2023: Eric Coburn, Leesburg
• 2024: Scott Arthur, Loogootee
• 2025: Bill Brinkman, Lawrenceburg
• 2026: Ron McGriff, Whiteland