News

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Announces 2017 Men’s
Center Circle Officials Award Winners

 Bob Beeson, Connersville
Larry Maxwell, Martinsville
Bob Carr, Muncie (deceased)

NEW CASTLE – The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes three men for their contribution as high school basketball officials as the 2017 Men’s Center Circle Officials Award winners.

Bob Beeson, Larry Maxwell and the late Bob Carr will be recognized for their officiating careers.

Bob Beeson is a 1958 graduate of Connersville High School, where he was a multi-year letterman in basketball, track and cross country.  Licensed as a basketball official for 51 years, he worked 30 IHSAA sectionals, 23 regionals, six semi-states three state finals (1987, 1991 and 1995) and served as a state finals alternate in 1985.  A two-term President of the Eastern Indiana Officials Association, he received the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Roy Gardner Award in 1996.  In addition to varsity officiating, he coached elementary school basketball for five years, worked 15 years as timer for Connersville boy’s basketball and has worked JV, 9th grade and middle school basketball late into his life.  Married to the former Elaine Gabbard of Connersville, they have two children, Dr. David Beeson and Dr. Beth Ingram.  Retired

Larry Maxwell is a 1963 graduate of Martinsville High School, where he lettered for three years in basketball, four times in track, twice in cross country and once in football.  During his officiating career, Maxwell worked 33 IHSAA boy’s sectionals, 26 regionals, seven semi-states and four state finals (1991, 1995, 1998, 1999).  A Vice President with the Indiana Officials Association and President of the Mid-State Officials Association, he received the Roy Gardner Award from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association in 2001.  An active member of his community with the Lions Club, Morgan County Fair Board and Morgan County Pork Producers, he is also the owner of Maxwell Insurance in Martinsville.  Married to the former Susie Brown of Martinsville, he is the father of Brad, Amie and Molly.

The late Robert “Bob” Carr of Muncie was a 1955 graduate of Hartford City High School, lettering three times in basketball, football and baseball and he played football and baseball at Wabash College.  Working 18 sectionals, 11 regionals, six semi-states and two state finals (1986 and 1989) in his IHSAA officiating career, he also worked the 1975 IHSAA football state finals and 1978 and 1984 IHSAA baseball state finals.  A President of the Central Indiana Officials Association, Carr also was an officials’ observer for the NCAA Mid-American Conference.  Prior to his death in March 1994, he worked in insurance and ran a charter fishing business on Lake Erie.  Married to the former Sophia Meyers, they had three children, Chris, Kyle and Kerry.

All Center Circle Officials Award winners will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s Annual Men’s Banquet on Wednesday, March 22, 2017.

A midday reception, free and open to the public, will be held at the Hall of Fame museum in New Castle.  The evening banquet will take place at the Primo Banquet Hall, which is located on the south side of Indianapolis.  

Reservation forms will be made available in early 2017, or tickets can be reserved now through the Hall’s website at www.hoopshall.com. Call the Hall at 765-529-1891 or email info@hoopshall.com for more information.