Scott Gonzales has been a constant at local track and cross country meets.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Some people have a reputation of “always starting things,” and that description can rightly be attributed to Scott Gonzales. For more than 50 years, Gonzales has been a fixture at local track and cross country meets, often as the official whose starting pistol gives competitors the signal to begin their race.
To mark this milestone, Gonzales was recently honored with a 50-year award from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches and Officials (IATC/IATO). Besides Gonzales, the other 50-year honorees included Timm Lamb (Fort Madison), Paul Lorber (New London), Dale Sandquist (Urbandale), Joe Toot (Nevada), Robert Witzenburg (Fairfield) and Ron Werling (Indianola).
Generations of runners have waited for Scott Gonzales’ starting gun.
Gonzales was a longtime resident of Guthrie Center and now lives at Lake Panorama. He reflected back on how his tenure as a track official began.
“I got started when I took a Fundamentals of Track class at Central College, and part of the curriculum was to take an officials’ test,” Gonzales said. “After I did that, I decided to send that to the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and paid the fee, so I became an official in 1971.”
Gonzales said it’s been rewarding to watch young athletes grow in confidence and athletic performance over their junior high and high school years. He also admitted he’s seen a variety of unusual, and sometimes comic, happenings around the track.
“One time, I was starting a track meet and I got everybody into their blocks for the race, and I looked up, and there’s a kid who’s in the blocks facing the wrong way,” Gonzales said. “He would have had quite a surprise.”
Over the decades, Gonzales has seen many examples of second-generation athletes in the meets he officiates, meaning the kids running have parents who formerly ran in races started by Gonzales. Now, the third generation is upon him.
Scott Gonzales shows his 50-year award.
Gonzales pointed out that spectators might not realize the amount of physical activity involved in serving as a track official. He explained that in an average track meet, he’ll walk roughly three miles.
“Typically, starters are on their feet for five hours straight,” Gonzales said. “I schedule 14 to 15 meets each spring. I’ve done as many as 16. I’ve done four in one week, but I don’t think I’d do that again. I also start several cross country meets in the fall. I’ve driven as far as 95 miles to start a track meet, but almost all have been in west central Iowa.”
Despite the physical and time demands of officiating, Gonzales says he has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“My health is still good, and I enjoy it,” he said. “As long as I’m physically able, I’ll continue for a few more years, at least.”