1970 to present: Inland Empire Wrestling Officials Association Pat Girtz graduated from Rogers High School in Spokane and immediately began his wrestling officiating career in 1970. The 2018-2019 wrestling season was Pat's 49th year as a wrestling official all with the Inland Empire Wrestling Officials Association in Spokane. For a short time he also served as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach with Hall of Fame Official John deWeber at Gonzaga University. In September of 1986, Pat was hit by a drunk driver and sustained serious injuries. His life would never be the same but he continued his wrestling officiating because it gave his life purpose. He has served as president, vice president, board member and lead trainer over the years for the Inland Empire Wrestling Officials Association. During his officiating career he has officiated at countless district tournaments, over 40 regional tournaments and 20 Mat Classic State Wrestling Championships. For a lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling Girtz was presented with the 1999 Spokesman Review Washington Broadcasters Sport Writers Meritorious Award. He received the Washington Officials Association Meritorious Award in 2004 and the Washington Officials Association Official of the Year in 2012. In 2017 he was inducted into the Rogers High School Wall of Fame. Following his 1986 injuries as a result of a drunk driver, Girts has been committed to helping others understand the crisis caused by drunk drivers. He speaks 4 to 5 times each month to youth at junior high and high schools in the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho areas. He is also a participant on the DUI Victim's panel addressing DUI offenders on how their actions affect others and their families. Pat does these speaking engagements to show what can happen when people make bad choices and how lives can change in the blink of an eye. Going through his recovery from the DUI injuries, wrestling gave Girtz a purpose to work hard and to be a better person. Pat stated "my biggest accomplishment in life is getting the pleasure of raising his three girls, Rayna Girtz (40), Tonya Lewis (38) and Tiffany Foley (36). Pat and his wife Debbe currently live in Spokane and have nine grandchildren.