Page 159 - 2023-24 By-Laws

History of IHSAA

sell, sportswriter for the Indianapolis News, was appointed to fill this position and began his
duties on July 1, 1994.
On January 13, 1995, C. Eugene Cato retired as Commissioner. On October 13, 1994,
the Executive Committee appointed Robert B. Gardner as the next Commissioner. He began
his duties on January 13, 1995. Blake Ress, former Principal of Martinsville High School, was
named the new Assistant Commissioner on December 16, 1994.
On April 29, 1996, the Board of Directors voted 12-5 to implement multiple classes for
tournament play in team sports beginning in the 1997-98 school year. Twenty principals in
each of the five IHSAA legislative districts signed petitions calling for a referendum on the
multiple class tournament adoption by the Board of Directors. The referendum vote was held
with all ballots to be received by September 16, 1996. The action of the Board of Directors
was upheld by the principals in a vote of 220 in favor and 157 opposed.
On December 12, 1997, after 20 years of service, Assistant Commissioner Mildred Mor-
gan Ball announced her retirement, effective June 30, 1997. On March 21, 1997, Theresia
Wynns, Principal, Creston Middle School, Indianapolis, and long-time IHSAA licensed official,
was appointed as the new Assistant Commissioner and began her duties on July 1, 1997.
On February 19, 1999, after 27 /2 years of service, Assistant Commissioner Patricia Roy
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announced her retirement, effective June 30, 1999. Sandy Searcy, Girls Athletic Director and
Swimming Coach at Bloomington North High School was appointed as the new Assistant
Commissioner on May 3, 1999, and began her duties on July 1, 1999.
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On March 27, 2000, after 15 years of service, including 5 /2 as Commissioner, Robert B.
Gardner announced his resignation to become Chief Operating Officer of the Indianapolis-
based National Federation of State High School Associations. On April 10, 2000, the Executive
Committee appointed Assistant Commissioner Blake Ress as the next Commissioner. He
began his duties July 1, 2000. On June 16, 2000, Bobby Cox, Athletic Director at Carmel High
School was named as the new Assistant Commissioner. He also began his duties July 1, 2000.
In May of 2000, the Association’s Board of Directors adopted language regarding a “Case
Review Panel” enacted by the Indiana General Assembly as an alternative to legal action when
a party disagrees with the Association’s final decision. The Case Review Panel is comprised of
nine individuals, including the Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction or his/her designee
who would serve as the Panel’s chairperson.
At its annual meeting in April of 2001, the Board of Directors voted to reduce the number
of legislative districts from five to three effective with the 2001-02 school year. A restructuring
of the Board’s makeup also ensued with the number of high school classifications increasing
from three to four thus ensuring representation of each competition class. The Board of Direc-
tors will continue to have 18 seats, with six seats being filled by two females, two minorities
and two urban school representatives. Additionally, the Executive Committee would begin to
be comprised of all members of the Board of Directors with each individual having the ability
to vote on issues.
On December 7, 2001, after 7 /2 years of service, Sports Information Director Jim Rus-
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sell announced his resignation to become Executive Director of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity,
whose national headquarters are based locally. On January 10, 2002, Jerry Baker, with his
recognizable television voice that has been associated with IHSAA football and basketball
tournaments since 1978, was named Sports Information Director.
On December 1, 2004, after nearly three years of service, Baker announced his resigna-
tion from his post. On December 16, Commissioner Blake Ress announced that Jason Wille,
the IHSAA’s Assistant Sports Information Director and an employee of 9 /2 years, was named
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Sports Information Director.
On January 26, 2005, Commissioner Ress announced the hiring of Joe Gentry as Com-
munications Director, a new position in the Assocation’s Office. Gentry joined the IHSAA after
a 17-year career as Sports Information Director for the University of Indianapolis.
At its May 1, 2006 meeting, the IHSAA Board of Directors approved adding a 19th seat to
its body reserved for a private school representative. The seat would be filled beginning with
the 2007-08 school year.
Gentry resigned his post as Communications Director in September, 2006 to return to his
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