In 1978, Steve Charron left his coaching job at Winner High School and went into private business in Huron. 

But the career change created a void and Charron missed being around student-athletes. Shortly thereafter, an opportunity arose for Charron to fill that void as a track and field and cross-country official. 

“As I grew in the field, I started seeing these kids' performances and what they could do, and I just wanted to be a part of it,” Charron said. “I looked forward to every contest that I worked. I met great kids, great coaches, and it kind of filled that void and placed a positive thing in my life back again working with kids and that’s why I have done it for 45 years.”

At this week’s state track and field meet in Sioux Falls, Charron will be recognized for his years of officiating as the recipient of the National Federation of State High School Associations Active Official Award for Section 5, which includes all officials from the states of Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

A national committee selected Charron for his service as an official. The award exemplifies the highest standards of ethical conduct and moral character. Dr. Karissa Neiehoff, chief executive officer of the NFHS, stated that his contributions to high school athletics is truly deserving of their recognition and appreciation.

Charron, who will receive a commemorative ring as a gift from the NFHS for this honor, was notified about receiving the award in December 2023. 

“At first, it was sort of disbelief because the gal started naming off all the states that I was representing,” Charron said. “I was thinking about all the track officials in all those states and then she said ‘No, this is all sports.’ Then I went ‘Wow.’ I was thinking then about all the officials in those six states, and how lucky I was to be the one chosen.” 

Charron has been the head starter at the South Dakota High School Activities Association cross-country meet for 31 years and also has been a starter for the SDHSAA state track and field meet for 28 years. He not only works high school track and cross country but also officiates both NCAA and NAIA indoor track and cross-country competitions. He’s also worked the Nike Heartland Regional cross-country meet.

Charron, 73, has no intentions of putting away the starter pistol anytime soon and has a full high school and college schedule lined up for next year. 

“For right now, it’s business as usual,” Charron said. “I did just get done with a stretch of about eight track meets in 11 days, and that really did take it out of me. But I just have to pace myself a little bit.” 

Charron has received several awards such as the NFOA Official of the Year, SDHSAA Distinguished Service award and ESD Award of Merit.

The NFHS honor is a tribute to all the track and field and cross-country officials in South Dakota, said Charron. 

“We work darn hard and we’ve really got a good crew in South Dakota,” Charron said. “So really for me winning it is a tribute to South Dakota first, and second all the good track and field and cross-country officials we have. We really have a great group and a very fine organization that we are working on continuing education all the time, so that we can be the best we can for the kids.”

A Faulkton High School graduate, Charron participated in football, wrestling, track and field and Legion baseball. Charron competed in two state track and field meets.

After graduating high school, Steve attended Northern State University for three years. Then an opportunity to join a group called Teacher Corp led him to Black Hills State University. Charron later coached at Todd County and Winner.

Charron later worked at Reader’s Digest magazine, where he managed nine states and was named Reader’s Digest National Salesman of the Year.

“I put in 30 years with them and had a really nice career with them,” Charron said. “I made a lot of good friends, traveled all over the world. But once again I was working with kids and that’s what I wanted to do.” 

Charron and his wife, Sheila, have three children: Misty, Molly and Wade. Steve praised his wife for allowing him to officiate all these years.

“Because four or five days a week I leave at seven or eight in the morning and I don’t come back until five or six, and that’s been going on 45 years,” Charron said. “So a lot of sacrifices on my family’s part as well.” 

It has also led to some interesting moments on the track. When Misty was in high school, Charron made a call at the ESD meet that disqualified one of the Huron relay teams. 

“I disqualified my daughter one time,” Charron said. “That didn’t go over real good at supper time that night.”

Misty’s daughter, Emery Larson of Chester, is a dynamic distance runner that will compete at this week’s state track and field meet.

It’s also where Charron will continue his veteran officiating career and being around his colleagues on the track.  

“Some of our best times are going as a crew of three or four, and the trips to and from the meets,” Charron said. “We talk more about track and field in those three-four hour drives than anybody will ever imagine. Things that happened 40-50 years ago and things that happen now. They’ve kind of added a couple years onto my career just being around those guys.”