Hall of Fame
Thomas P. McTaggart was a dedicated official of high school wrestling, track & field, cross country, swimming and diving since 1969. For a 33-year span (1969-2001), Mr. McTaggart was a well respected wrestling official. He was active in 28 Sectional Finals and five NYSPHSAA State Tournaments. He also served eight years as chapter president, four years as the secretary, and five years as a local rules interpreter. During this time, Mr. McTaggart was also a NYS Certified Swimming & Diving Official for eight years and a member of the Rockland County Swimming Officials’ Association. He has officiated at 26 NYSPHSAA Indoor Championships, 15 Outdoor State Championships, and nine State Cross Country Championships. For four years, he served as Vice-President of the NYS Track & Field Officials’ Association and in 2001 he became the State Rules Interpreter.
Mr. McTaggart has belonged to many organizations that have helped him to become one of the most respected and trusted officials. He was a member of the Rockland County & New York State Wrestling Officials’ Associations as well as the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials’ Association, the National Wrestling Officials’ Association and the National Federation Interscholastic Officials’ Association. Mr. McTaggart was an Olympic Track & Field Official as well as a USA Wrestling Category 1E Wrestling Referee in 1982, with the USA Wrestling Officials’ Association. He also served on many coaches associations such as the National Federation Coaches’ Association, the Rockland County Coaches’ Association and the National High School Track Coaches’ Association.
Throughout the years of officiating and coaching, Mr. McTaggart has earned many honors. In 1987, he won “Outstanding Official of the Year” for track & field as selected by the NYSCTFOA, and in 1991 he won the award again for cross country. He was further recognized in 1989 when he won the Metropolitan Athletics Congress Official’s Service Award.
A graduate of Suffern High School in 1965, he was selected by USA Track & Field to officiate the competition at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 and in Atlanta in 1996. For his service to track & field Mr. McTaggart was awarded the Dick Teetsel Award in 1997. And in 2001 he received recognition as “Wrestling Official of the Year for New York State” by the National Federation Officials’ Association.
Mr. McTaggart earned his B.A. at Colgate University in 1969 and continued his schooling at Montclair State University where he earned a Masters.