The IHSA annually honors an individual or individuals as Honorary Referees at the IHSA Track & Field State Final meets as a way to recognize them for their dedication to the sport. Read more about the 2025 honorees below...
2025 GIRLS HONORARY REFEREE | GARY GOULD
Gary attended Centralia High School and participated in track his freshman year. After that he had to forego sports so he could enter the workforce to help ease the financial burdens on a single mom with five kids. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1970 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
He never gave up his love for track and encouraged his children to take up the sport. In 1986, when his son began participating in junior high track at Rochester Junior High, Gary began volunteering to work as a timer at home meets. A year later, this expanded to include high school meets. Forty years later he can still be found organizing the finish line at all home track meets for the Rochester Rockets. He is proud to be able to say he worked with and learned from two Hall of Fame coaches during this time, Robin Taft and Bill Derks.
Gary began volunteering at the IHSA Boys Track & Field State Finals in 2007. While sitting in the stands, he was approached by Rochester assistant coach Bill Owens, who asked if he would be willing to help out at the finish line because more timers were needed. In 2008, he volunteered as an umpire for both the Girls and Boys State Meets and has been back every year ever since. In 2014, Gary was appointed as Assistant Head Umpire for both meets and in 2015 served as the Head Umpire for the Girls State Finals.
One of his favorite perks at the meets is getting to meet and talk with the athletes. He says “there are a lot of great young people participating in this program.”
Gary has adopted one hobby over the years. If scheduling permits, he tries to get a picture of each Rochester athlete from a trackside view with the grandstands in the background, which he shares with their coaches and parents.
2025 BOYS HONORARY REFEREE | MATTHYS, MARY ANN, & BRANDON BAX
The IHSA Track and Field State Finals are a family affair for the Bax family.
Matthys “Thys” has served as an umpire at the boys and girls state meets for over 33 years, which includes serving as head umpire for the boys state finals the last 15 years. Thys began a career in education as a teacher and coach for two years at McLeansboro High School and followed with 33 years in the Carmi-White County School District as a teacher and elementary principal. During his teaching, coaching, and retirement years, Thys spent over 50 years as a coach in a variety of sports, while focusing mainly on cross-country and track.
Mary Ann began volunteering for the boys and girls state track meet prelims and finals in 2006 after retiring as a special education administrator. She has volunteered for 16 of the last 19 years. The first five years, Mary Ann was the runner, meaning she ran the results of each race from the finish line to the dugout. Once the race results became automated, she spent one year each as the head anemometer and as an umpire. Since 2017. Mary Ann has helped with handing out the coaches’ packets and also with awards. Mary Ann first began attending track and cross country meets when her husband coached and then when her son ran at Carmi High School. She also supported Thys when he ran in many 5k races, half-marathons, and marathons over the years. Mary Ann and Thys now enjoy watching their granddaughter Kennedy Bax run track and cross-country at Mt. Vernon High School.
“I have truly enjoyed watching some of the best athletes in the nation perform in the boys and girls Illinois State Track Meets over the years,” said Mary Ann.
Brandon worked his first State Track Meet in 1997 as an Umpire and continued volunteering at both the Girls and Boys State Final meets while attending college at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). After graduating from EIU, Brandon taught Social Studies, was a School Counselor, and coached track & field at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto from 2003 to 2009. Brandon has always enjoyed being involved with the sport since he began running 5k races in elementary school, but his favorite memory is being able to watch his daughter Kennedy compete at the 2024 IHSA Girls State Meet as a freshman. Currently, Brandon works for the State of Illinois as a Program Administrator of a Youth Employment grant for at-risk youth. “I encourage everyone who is able to get involved with Track and Field because I believe there is such a wide variety of activities offered in this sport,” said Brandon.
For the Bax family, it has been an honor and privilege to serve the IHSA and member schools at the Illinois state track meets.