(Macedonia, Iowa) It was a bittersweet moment at the 2026 State Softball Tournament for longtime softball umpire Gary Wax.
For 21 straight years, Gary Wax, from Macedonia, Iowa, was selected to work the state softball tournament. Gary says he had the good fortune to spend the week in Fort Dodge working with Jim Doyle and Casey Conover. The trio worked five contests capped off with the Class 2A State Championship game. This would be his last state tournament as an umpire.
Gary knew it would be his last state tournament.
Prior to his successful umpiring days, he had a successful career coaching softball. When he retired from coaching in 2002, he started umpiring. In 2006, Gary Wax was selected as a State Tournament umpire, and put together a string of 21-straight years.
Wax says he learned a lot about umpiring, and transitioned that into everyday life, and that is too…
When asked how he would like to be remembered as an umpire?
Gary said he would like to be remembered as somebody who did his job and wasn’t out there for the glory. He said he would rather do a game and afterward nobody would even notice he was there.
He admits there are too many people to mention, but he gives credit to his #1 supporter, his wife Linda. She attended every state tournament with him for the last 21 years. They have celebrated more anniversaries in Fort Dodge than anywhere else.
Gary gives a huge shout-out to all umpires, coaches, players, and the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union staff that have been part of his journey.
Meanwhile, Gary will continue to do some regular-season games and will do some evaluating of young umpires.
Who knows, he may continue to attend the State Softball Tournament, but in a different role.
Congratulations to Gary Wax for a tremendous run as a state softball tournament umpire!
(Photo courtesy of Linda Wax: L-R-Gary Wax, Jim Doyle, and Casey Conover)
