Warren Ring

WARREN RING's association with track & field began at Brooklyn Prep High School and followed him to Fordham University where he ran track and cross country. Warren and his wife Betty settled in Brooklyn where they raised their seven children. When his children became involved in CYO track & field, Warren volunteered his time to help the kids. This involvement soon led him to becoming an official.
 
Warren was a fixture in the Clerking area for more than 35 years. His love of the sport and its athletes, coaches, administrators and spectators has always been apparent. He possesses a natural gift for organization and boasts a great rapport with people. He has the great Irish “Gift of Gab” - and maybe even a little blarney - and all who come into contact with him enjoy his warmth and friendship and his common sense and advice. On a personal level, I learned so much from Warren. Back in New York, I am usually a Clerk and when I began officiating, Warren took me under his wing and made sure that I learned the right way to do my job. He was always there to help and to encourage me.
 
Warren’s officiating career included being Chief Clerk at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta as well as being Chief Clerk at 4 Olympic Trials, 8 National Open Championships, many Youth and many Masters Championships, the Goodwill Games, the Millrose Games, the Penn Relays, NCAA Championships, the World University Games, the National Scholastic Championship, and the Manhattan College Cross Country Championship. This list just scratches the surface. In addition to his presence at track & field meets, Warren was a fixture on the Road Race scene and has had a long involvement with the New York Road Runners Club and the NYC Marathon. He also served as an official at the Olympic Marathon Trials.
 
Though he has served in many capacities as an official, his specialty as a Clerk led him to being a great teacher and he has led many clerking clinics and worked diligently to mentor new officials.
 
He was an active member of the Metropolitan Association and served as its Track & Field Chair. He was elected Delegate-At-Large to the National Officials Committee.

Because of his skill as a clerk and his rapport with other officials, athletes, and the press, he was gave the position of Clerk Coordinator for National Championships by meet management.  Many honors were bestowed on Warren by the Metropolitan Association, the New York Road Runners Club, the Penn Relays and Armory Track & Field.
 
I would like to share some personal thoughts and remembrances about Warren. Warren was one of the world’s leading experts on the New Your City Subway system since he has never driven a car. Warren is one of the leading experts on the uniform rule – just ask the Irish Olympians.
 
Warren was well known by the proprietors of many fine dining and beverage establishments in New York State as “Father Ring.”   There are things that Warren will never let me forget - that my husband has little tolerance for M&M’s and beer after a marathon – that I fell asleep under the living room table at the Empire State Games in Syracuse – and on a more serious note – that being a track & field official is a special thing that bears a great responsibility but offers great rewards in terms of satisfaction, friendship, camaraderie and fun.
 
We are honored to posthumously welcome Warren Ring into the New York Officials Hall of Fame.

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     Renowned Official Warren Ring Passes