Gashel inducted into national hall of fame
Ken McWilliams remembers the time Barry Gashel was officiating a wrestling match between Waynesburg and West Greene more than two decades ago. It was a moment that has remained with him all these years.
“He was in the middle of the match when a lady, who was sitting at the top of the bleachers, threw her purse,” McWilliams recalled. “It hit dead center while he was officiating. Coins went everywhere. The lady was escorted out with her loose change in her hand. Obviously, she didn’t care much for Barry’s call.”
Gashel had a number of interesting and, sometimes, unusual moments in the sport as a wrestler, then as a longtime official. He spent 36 years officiating youth, high school and college matches and took his spot on the mat nearly to the time of his death from cancer in April 2007 at age 57.
Last month, Gashel was inducted posthumously into the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Gashel’s wife Ruth was presented with her husband’s Lifetime Service Award, which honors dedicated wrestling people for their years of commitment to young people.
Gashel was a 1967 graduate of McGuffey High School, a 1971 business administration graduate of Waynesburg University and earned a business education degree from Geneva College in 1972.
Gashel lettered four times at McGuffey and entered officiating following his graduation from Waynesburg.
“Both of us worked the California Christmas Tournament before it became Powerade,” said McWilliams. “We met Joe Hanlon, who was from Parkersburg. After a few years, Dr. (William) Welker from Wheeling Park, who was a rules interpreter, asked Joe Hanlon about whether he thought it was a good idea to get to Pennsylvania people to do the state tournament in West Virginia. … I got it the first year and after that, we worked quite a few tournaments together.”
As a mat arbiter, Gashel was selected to officiate numerous sections and regionals in Pennsylvania, 15 regionals in West Virginia, and 13 West Virginia State tournaments. In 2001, Gashel was selected as the West Virginia Wrestling Official of the Year.
After Gashel’s death, his colleagues created the “Barry Gashel Wrestling Official of the Year Award,” prevented to the state’s top referee at the West Virginia Wrestling Championships.
“He passed away too quickly,” McWilliams said. “He officiated right to the end. … He was a good man and is sadly missed.”
Gashel served as the Washington County Wrestling Official’s Chapter Interpreter for 20 years. He mentored and trained new and experienced officials in the rules of the sport and provided interpretations, clarifications and counsel on any rules questions.
Gashel also served as a volunteer fireman, coached his daughters’ softball teams and actively served his church and community.