USA Softball Region 9

Gary started umpiring softball in 1978 through Payette Co. Recreation at Mesa Park in Fruitland, Idaho. After his first few years, he expanded into the Boise Valley doing weekend tournaments in McCall, Cascade, Willow Lane and other venues. He took on the District 3 UIC for ten years before becoming the Idaho State UIC for twenty six years. The thing that Gary enjoyed the most was being the State Rules Interpreter. Anytime he could teach or talk rules to anyone with questions was his favorite time. Many fireside chats while camping became a rules clinic, thus three of his five boys and two of his brothers tried their hands at umpiring! He also enjoyed his High School Softball Commissioner job for eighteen years. Gary has been involved in many state tournaments and several national tournaments taking him to the states of Washington and North Carolina in addition to the Boise area.

Gary received the Bob Martin Award in 1993, was voted into the USA Softball of Idaho Hall of Fame in 2019 and received the Red Halpern Award in 2022. Even today, he gets phone calls from umpires in Minnesota, Arizona, California and all over the Northwest Mountain Region asking about rules and mechanics. This brings him joy at this time in his life. Gary McCarney is well known for his love and knowledge of the game of softball!