Our Official of the Year in 2016 is now an inductee in the Hall of Fame Class of 2018. For 25 years, Nelson Woodhouse has been an outstanding official in the Southeast Region, bringing to his service a variety of skills and experiences that few can match. A graduate of Norview High School, he is a performing musician, a song writer, a machinist, a former nuclear power plant inspector, and a retired engineering technician from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, from which he retired as a federal employee after 34 years of service. During these busy decades, he began a varied sports career as a coach in wrestling and as a coach and umpire in baseball, before putting on the striped shirt for wrestling. He also enjoyed his years as a wrestling dad; his sons Travis and Stacy both took thirds in Beast of the East while wrestling for Great Bridge High School, and Stacy won two state titles for the Wildcats. Nelson has brought all this energy and excellence to his officiating, which included high-profile assignments and leadership positions. At the high school level, he has worked 21 district/conference, 24 regional, and 16 state tournaments, along with Senior Nationals. The Beast of the East tournament has invited him 12 times, and he officiates both high school and college matches in mixed competitions such as the Virginia Duals and the Reno Tournament of Champions. He is a proven veteran of college wrestling, participating in six Conference Division I tournaments as well as in-season contests. When he wants a change from folkstyle, he will move over to freestyle and Greco tournaments, where his quality is undiminished: he was Virginia Freestyle Official of the Year in 2002. Excellent officials are often chosen to lead their associations, and Nelson is no exception. His first leadership role was the position of Head Official for the Virginia Challenge Association; not long after, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the Southeast Wrestling Officials Association. He then advanced in 2009 to his current position as Commissioner. Through all these achievements, Nelson Woodhouse has been sustained by his family, especially by his loving wife of 41 years, Gina. He takes great pride in their two sons, but these days, the "center of his affection," as he says, are his six grandchildren.