Darell Garretson

American basketball referee (1932–2008)

Darell Lee Garretson (March 18, 1932 – April 21, 2008) was an American professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 27 years from 1967 to 1994 wearing uniform number 10, and he later served as NBA Supervisor of Officials for 17 years from 1981 to 1998. 269 playoff games, 39 Finals games and five All Star games. On April 4, 2016, Garretson was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as an official.

Born in Long Point, Illinois, and later served in the U. S. Navy, stationed in San Diego, California. He also officiated recreational, high school, and college basketball games, while working as a salesman, before being hired by the NBA.

Darell Garretson died in his sleep on April 24, 2008, at his home in Mesa, Arizona, at age 76.

In 2000, Garretson pleaded guilty to fraud in an airline ticket scheme involving purchasing less expensive tickets and pocketing the difference without reporting the additional income to the Internal Revenue Service. He was sentenced to 180 days' home detention, three years of probation, and a US$5,000 fine. The addition of the third official allowed for better coverage of the court and also provided mentoring for younger officials with two more experienced officials. Working in the NBA's front office, he also was involved with scouting prospective officials and providing instruction. Former referee and current director of officiating, Ronnie Nunn said of Garretson, "[he] was a guy who drilled into you to get plays right." As an official and supervisor in the NBA, Garretson was the target of criticism by the media and notable officials including, Jake O'Donnell, Richie Powers, and Earl Strom. Critics of Garretson claimed that he developed the current generation of referees into "robots" by suppressing individual personality. On the court, Garretson was also known to minimize the amount of communication between himself and players and coaches, which was considered an unpopular approach among members of the media.