(The following article was posted on the Gateway Region Volleyball website on March 12, 2019.)
The Gateway Region would like to recognize and congratulate Pat Steele on her induction to the St. Louis Officials Association Hall of Fame. Pat is the first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Pat began her volleyball refereeing career in 1970 as part of the Division of Girls and Women’s Sports – better known as DGWS, while still teaching at Brentwood High School. Pat eventually became an official under Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHAA) as an official for both girls and boys high school volleyball. When SLOA made the decision to include volleyball under SLOA covered sports, Pat became the first SLOA vice president for volleyball. Pat also refereed Regional collegiate volleyball and was part of the birth of boys volleyball in St Louis, many times refereeing pro bono in the early days of the boys sport. Her refereeing career has spanned 47 years and over those 47 years she has set a standard for all officials.
Throughout the 47 years Pat has received numerous personal achievement awards:
- 4-time official at Girls Missouri State High School Championship Tournaments - 1983, 1985, 1994, and 2006;
- Officiated at two Boys State Tournaments;
- Officiated over 30 Sectional Tournaments;
- 1996 - USAV Meritorious Service Award;
- 1998 - St Louis Women’s Sports Achievement Award for Volleyball;
- 2001 - MSHAA 25 Year Service Award;
- 2005 - MSHAA Officials Association Volleyball Official of the Year;
- 2011 - Received the Ken Braden Golden •Whistle Award presented by SLOA to recognize those officials that demonstrate their willingness to mentor, teach, and encourage new officials in the sport;
- 2014 - Pat presented the first “Pat Steele Award” which honors the most promising volleyball official for that year. Each year the award is given to a new official who demonstrates volleyball officiating competency and professionalism.
Pat’s love is to teach and promote the officiating cadre in St Louis. Her biggest reward is not the personal recognition. It is mentoring new officials as they get started and helping them grow in competency and professionalism. Some have gone on to be high level NCAA caliber officials. Whether it’s part of a Mechanics Clinic or in a one-on-one conversation, she is always working to improve the overall caliber of the St Louis officiating corp. The designation of the yearly “Pat Steele Award” for up and coming officials is testament to her passion.
Pat has been involved in the sport of volleyball as an official as well as a coach, and Club Director for Kirkwood Volleyball Club for many years. For many years she was a member of the original Gateway Volleyball Region office staff responsible for the development of USA Volleyball Club officials. As an active volleyball official for 47 years, Pat has constantly strived to provide both coaches and players the best environment for playing the sport. Her commitment to excellence and her desire to promote the sport through quality officiating has brought numerous new officials to the sport and has raised the bar for all existing officials.
Congratulations to Pat on a remarkable officiating career!
