Gary O’Daniels became active in track and field officiating while working as the guidance counselor and Cross Country coach at North Bend Central High School in North Bend, Nebraska.
Nebraska went to a co-ed format for their state track and field championships in the mid 1980’s and Gary worked on the timing crew. He continued that for 25 years, even after moving to Creston, Iowa in 1986.
Gary has worked as both a starter and a referee at many high school track and field and cross country meets in south central and southwest Iowa since 1992.
When the Iowa high school track and field championships went co-ed in 2005, he became part of the umpiring crew and continues to contribute in that capacity.
Gary became a USATF certified official in the mid 90’s. Both he and his wife Phyllis are USATF Master Level racewalk officials, working at many NAIA collegiate race walk events as well as state and regional Junior Olympics race walking events.
He has also officiated several UATF Jr Olympic and AAU state, regional and national meets, NCAA indoor and outdoor meets and Big 12 and Big 10 meets.
Gary has been a starter for the Heart of American Conference for several years and a member of the Drake Relays umpiring crew since 2008.
Gary is an active member of the IATO and has been selected the Southwest Iowa Regional Track and Field Official of the Year on several occasions. He is also the Assistant Cross Country coach and volunteer assistant girls track and field coach at Creston.
Gary worked in student services, the assessment center and served as special needs coordinator at Southwestern Community College in Creston before retiring in 2002.