2019 Women’s Center Circle Officials announced
(NEW CASTLE) – The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes one woman and one man for their contribution as high school girls basketball officials as the 2019 Women’s Center Circle Officials Award winners.
Susan (Brooks) Layton of Greenfield and Michael E. Zehr of Dubois will be acknowledged for their officiating careers.
Susan (Brooks) Layton is a 1987 graduate of Rushville Consolidated High School, where she played basketball for Hall of Fame coach Cinda Brown, as well as participating in tennis and golf. A 1991 graduate of Butler University, she began her officiating career while in college, earning her officiating license in 1989.
Licensed for 20 seasons, she worked 10 sectionals, six regionals, three semi-states, the 2004 IHSAA girls state finals and three Hall of Fame Classics.
She has been a member of the IOA, Mid-Hoosier, Lime City, Northeastern Indiana and Fall Creek officials associations while living in various parts of the state. In addition to work as a clinician and observer, she has been a part of the girls state finals staff to assist the officials working state championship games.
After working in Fort Wayne media for eight years, she has worked the past 18 years in marketing and sales at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. She resides in Greenfield.
Michael E. Zehr is a 1972 graduate of Dubois High School, where he lettered in basketball, baseball, cross country and track, setting the school single-season home run record and as a member of the one mile relay team that set a new school record.
A longtime contributor as a basketball official, he has worked 33 girls sectionals, 23 girls regionals, nine girls semi-states and six girls state finals (2001, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2018), in addition to 24 boys sectionals, 16 boys regionals, three boys semi-states and the 2014 boys state finals in 43 years officiating.
Recognized as one of the state’s outstanding officials, he received the Mildred Ball Award from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association in 2018, the IHSAA girls basketball Outstanding Official Award in 2009, as well as IHSAA Outstanding Official Awards in volleyball and baseball previously.
A Past President of the Southwestern Indiana Officials Association, he was the past basketball & volleyball chair and the current SWIOA baseball chair and scholarship chair. In addition, he has spent multiple years as an IHSAA basketball interpreter and basketball & baseball clinician.
Zehr is retired from a 29-year career with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. He resides in Dubois.
Center Circle Officials Award winners will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 18th Annual Women’s Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
The ceremony will take place at the Primo Banquet Hall, which is located on the south side of Indianapolis. Tickets can be reserved through the Hall’s website here. Call the Hall at 765-529-1891 or email info@hoopshall.com for more information.