2020 IBCA Mildred Ball Award
IBCA/MILDRED BALL AWARD
Mildred Morgan Ball served as an IHSAA assistant commissioner from 1977 through 1997, responsible for the licensing and training of contest officials. In addition, she worked with the National Federation of State High School Associations’ rules committee. Ball is a 1953 graduate of Gary Roosevelt High School and a 1960 graduate of Indiana University. She was a teacher at East Chicago Washington High School before joining the IHSAA staff. She was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. The IBCA has presented an award to an outstanding basketball official in Mildred Ball’s name since 1997.
Congratulations to the Mildred Ball Award Winner: Gary Wier
Wier officiated boys basketball and girls basketball for 32 years. During his officiating career, he worked 17 sectionals, 11 regionals, six semi-states and three State Finals in the boys’ tournament (2003, 2007 and 2010). On the girls’ side, he worked 21 sectionals, 16 regionals, eight semi-states and five State Finals (1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2012).
He was the recipient of the 2013 Interscholastic Athletic Official Award for excellence in the sport of girls’ basketball. He is a past member of the Southwestern Official Association. Knee issues and a subsequent knee replacement prompted Wier’s retirement as a basketball official in 2013.
Wier is a 1978 graduate of Shakamak High School, where he excelled in basketball – at one-time holding the school record of 1,206 points – and competed in track & field. He went on to Rend Lake Junior College, competing in basketball there and graduating in 1981.
He has been employed with the Indiana State Police since 1988.
Wier and his wife, Jill, have been married for 35 years. Jill Wier, who works in health care, officiated volleyball for 35 years; for 11 years, Gary and Jill officiated volleyball together. The couple has one son, Mitch, 30, a former U.S. Marine who has been employed with the Indiana State Police since 2014.
1997: Theresia Wynns, Indianapolis
1998: Sue Ross, Fort Wayne
1999: Judy Schneider, Indianapolis
2000: Mike Crouch, Marion
2001: Tim Smith, Mentone
2002: Rhonda McGee, Floyds Knobs
2003: Rosie Leedy, Thorntown
2004: Barbara Guhl, Indianapolis
2005: Greta Hawvermale, Indianapolis
2006: Patty Broderick, Indianapolis
2007: John Patterson, Indianapolis
2008: Gene Butts, Warsaw
2009: Kim Yelich, Schererville
2010: Judy Phillips, Indianapolis
2011: Kelly Dennis, Whiteland
2012: Roger Holder, Greenfield
2013: Mike Smith, New Palestine
2014: Phil Vidito, Indianapolis
2015: Jay Smith, Syracuse
2016: Bob Frye, Indianapolis
2017: Larry Sintz, Brookville
2018: Michael Zehr, Dubois
2019: Andy Simpson, Crown Point
2020: Gary Wier, Plainville
2021: Gary Wier, Plainville (2020 was postponed, so honoring in 2021)
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