Gerald was born and raised on a farm north of Pella. He attended a one-room country school until 5th grade then through 12th grade at Pella Community Schools. His senior year found him captain of the football team and he quarterbacked his team to an undefeated conference title. Gerald was also captain of the basketball team that year which won the conference title. He earned 12 varsity letters at Pella High School and went on to play freshman basketball at Iowa State, later transferring to Central College and started every game for Central his sophomore year on. He received several awards and All Tournament honors while playing at Central. Gerald served as the head football and head track coach as well as coached 9th and 10th grade basketball at Pella and Knoxville, and a partner in Vic Young Sporting Goods and an Adidas rep for several years. The past 20 years has been spent in fund raising, currently working for a foundation as “Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving”. He has served on several boards, is a Kiwanis member, and as a Deacon of his church. He has been a Drake Relays official for 28 years and has officiated High School football and basketball for 25 years. He has been officiating track since 1970 and has worked both Boys and Girls State meet for many years as an umpire. Gerald has earned many honors here are just a few of them:
- • Starter at Iowa Conference Track Championships in the 1990s Starter at the Small College Track and Field meets in the 1990s Officiated several Division I National track meets throughout the country serving as an umpire.
- • Officiated the Nike Masters meet in Eugene, Oregon, in 1999 The National Federation of Officials Association names him “Official of the Year” for Iowa Girls Track and Field in 1998
- • He was named the IATO Southeast Regional “Official of the Year” three times IATO “Official of the Year” for Girls track in 2001 A starter at the Girls State Track meet for nine years.
A long time resident of Pella, Gerald is in the process of moving to Indianola Married to wife, Nancy, for 42 years; has three grown children and seven very special grandchildren and one on the way. Joining Gerald for his induction is his family: Wife – Nancy, Daughters – Lana and Lisa, Son – Tom and his wife Tammy.