Darell Lee Garretson (March 18, 1932 – April 21, 2008) was an American NBA official for 27 years, officiating 1,798 regular-season games, 269 playoff games, 41 Finals games, and five All-Star games. He was instrumental in organizing and heading the first union for referees, the National Association of Basketball Referees. He is widely considered the individual who shaped modern basketball officiating with a three-person crew and a focus on “refereeing the defense”. He served as NBA Chief of Officiating Staff and Director of Officials (1981-98) and is the only person to have served as a staff referee and Chief of Staff simultaneously.
Personal[]
Early life[]
Born in Long Point, Illinois, Garretson attended Illinois State Normal University (now Illinois State University) during the 1950s and later served in the U.S. Navy, stationed in San Diego, California. Discharging from the Navy in 1960, Garretson remained in California along with his wife, Jeanne. Becoming involved with sports, he served as manager of the Garden Grove, California team in the Little League World Series in 1968. He also officiated recreational, high school, and college basketball games, while working as a salesman, before being hired by the NBA.
Family[]
Darell Garretson and Jeanne Garretson have two sons, Ron, and Rick. Ron Garretson became a basketball official and is currently a referee in the NBA.
Death[]
Darell Garretson died in his sleep on April 24, 2008, at his home in Mesa, Arizona at age 76. The cause of death is unknown at this time, but it was reported that Garretson's health had been in decline following recent surgery and the effects of illnesses.
Following the news of his death, NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement, "We are saddened by the passing of Darell Garretson. Darell was a man of extraordinary character, who touched many lives during his 31-year tenure as an NBA official and supervisor of officials." Lamell McMorris, the spokesman for the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA), the union representing NBA officials, said, "Our grief at losing Darell Garretson is not just about the loss of an icon, a refereeing legend, although he certainly is both of those things. It is much more personal. Darell discovered and developed so many of our current referees. ... He took them and he coached them, tirelessly, and he made them some of the most elite referees in the world. And they love him for it."