Four Distinguished Officials Named Honorary Starters for the 2026 Lima Masters Golf Outing
Lima, OH — March 10, 2026 - 4 the Friendship is proud to announce that four distinguished officials will serve as the Honorary Starters for the 2026 Lima Masters Golf Outing, scheduled for July 18, 2026, at Colonial Golfers Club in Harrod, Ohio.
This year’s honorary starters recognize a group that often works behind the scenes but plays an essential role in youth and high school athletics — referees, umpires, and officials who ensure that games are played with integrity, fairness, and respect. Through decades of dedication, these individuals have helped shape countless athletes and communities throughout Northwest Ohio.
The 2026 Lima Masters Honorary Starters are Steve Oren, Charles Gasparetti, Jon Derryberry, and Dr. Dennis Morris.
Steve Oren
A 1967 graduate of Pandora-Gilboa High School, Steve Oren has devoted more than five decades to officiating high school athletics across Ohio. Oren recently completed 51 years as a basketball official and 50 years as a football official, along with 16 years umpiring softball. Earlier in his career, he also officiated volleyball for eight seasons before retiring from the sport to devote more time to football.
Beyond his work on the field and court, Oren has been a leader in the officiating community. He currently serves as Secretary of both the Western Ohio Football Officials Association and the Western Ohio Basketball Officials Association, and was recently named Commissioner of the Northwest Central Conference. He has also contributed to the development of future officials by teaching volleyball officiating classes earlier in his career.
Charles Gasparetti
A 1974 graduate of Lima Central Catholic and a 1979 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Charles Gasparetti has been a respected presence in Ohio high school athletics for decades.
Gasparetti has officiated more than 900 football games over a 45-year career, a remarkable accomplishment that continues today. In basketball, he officiated over 750 games during a 20-year career before retiring from the sport.
In addition to his officiating career, Gasparetti spent 20 years coaching junior high girls basketball at Lima Central Catholic, helping guide young athletes both on and off the court. Reflecting on his years in athletics, Gasparetti says he has always appreciated being “part of a team that enjoys themselves on and off the field.”
Jon Derryberry
A 1973 graduate of Wapakoneta High School, Jon Derryberry has dedicated nearly half a century to officiating high school athletics throughout Ohio.
Derryberry recently completed an extraordinary 45-year basketball officiating career, while continuing his long-standing involvement in both football and softball. He will begin his 45th season officiating football in August and his 28th year umpiring softball this spring.
Throughout his career, Derryberry has worked games across a large portion of Northwest and Central Ohio, from the Indiana state line to Mansfield and south toward Bellefontaine. At all levels combined, he estimates he has officiated more than 2,000 football games, 3,000 basketball games, and 2,000 softball games, including summer and slow-pitch contests.
Among his many memorable experiences was officiating the 2005 Girls Basketball State Championship at St. John Arena, where Berlin Hiland defeated Ottoville in overtime. Derryberry currently serves in his sixth year as Commissioner of the Northwest Conference and previously taught officiating classes and served as a rules interpreter for football and basketball officials for approximately 15 years.
Dr. Dennis Morris
Dr. Dennis Morris, a 1975 graduate of Elida High School, has built a remarkable career both in medicine and athletics. After graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1979, he earned his degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in 1985.
Dr. Morris has been involved with the Ohio High School Athletic Association as a football and basketball official since 1975, earning recognition for his distinguished officiating career. As a football referee, he officiated the 1995 and 1997 OHSAA state championships as well as several all-star games.
He served as a Mid-American Conference back judge from 1995–2002 and has been a Big Ten Conference back judge since 2002, officiating 24 postseason bowl games, including the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls.
Dr. Morris has also served as an OHSAA rules interpreter since 2005 and currently serves as Director of Officiating Development for Basketball, a position he has held since 2010. His contributions have been widely recognized, including induction into the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Celebrating the Officials Who Make the Game Possible
The Lima Masters tradition of naming honorary starters celebrates individuals who embody the values that sports bring to communities — leadership, integrity, respect, and teamwork.
While coaches and players often receive the spotlight, officials play an equally vital role in shaping the character of the game and the athletes who compete in it.
“These four individuals represent decades of service and dedication to athletics throughout Northwest Ohio,” said organizers from 4 the Friendship. “They exemplify the spirit of fairness, integrity, and commitment that keeps the game strong for future generations.”
2026 Lima Masters Golf Outing
Colonial Golfers Club – Harrod, Ohio
July 18, 2026
Proceeds from the Lima Masters continue to support youth sports initiatives through 4 the Friendship, helping communities Unite | Play | Thrive.
For more information or to get involved, visit:
www.4theFriendship.com
Contact:
4 the Friendship
Email: email@4theFriendship.com
About 4 the Friendship
4 the Friendship is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth sports programs and fostering friendships through community engagement. Since its founding in 2024, the organization has donated over $25,000 to youth initiatives and continues to empower young athletes and communities to unite, play, and thrive.
Unite | Play | Thrive
