A Guthrie Center resident is going to be one of 170 athletic officials honored this weekend at the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s 20th Annual Officials Banquet and Recognition Ceremony.

Ed Langgaard will be recognized as a 35-year officiating honoree during Saturday’s celebration at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines, and he explains what the award means to him.

“It’s an honor but it doesn’t seem like it’s been 35 years that I’ve been an official.  I really appreciate it and it is fun to do.  I hope to continue–I don’t do a lot of varsity games anymore but I do a lot of JV and junior high games.  I just enjoy it, it is good exercise and I enjoy meeting and seeing the kids (play).”

Langgaard exclusively referees basketball in the Guthrie County area, and he himself was a player at both the high school and collegiate levels.  He describes how he first got into the officiating world.

“When I was in college I took an interim class that was an officiating class and that’s when I started.  Then I did a bunch of intramural games down at Simpson (in college), and then it wasn’t until I think I was 25 when I got my license, but from then I had some friends that needed some help with some games so I’d help them… I just went on from there.”

Langgaard is one of 39 individuals receiving their 35-year honor this weekend.  The next stepping stone is the 50-year officiating honor, which has just seven recipients this year.