Rusty Davidson of Grants, N.M. was named USA Wrestling Official of the Year. This award is presented annually to an outstanding official within USA Wrestling for achievements and service to the sport. Davidson has been officiating for 28 years and has been a referee on the international level for 24 years. He has a FILA 1 ranking. He has worked as an official at the World Championships for every level, working the World meet for Cadet Men, Junior Men, Junior Women and Senior Women athletes. He has been to 38 different countries as either a referee or a coach. Among the other events has worked has been Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships. He was also an official at the World Wrestling Games (where he was a referee for Beach Wrestling and Grappling). Davidson has officiated at every Junior Nationals since 1982, every Senior Nationals since 1984, and every Cadet Nationals ever held. In addition, he has been an official at the Kids National Championships. He has served as head official at a number of USA Wrestling national and regional level events. He is currently the officials director for New Mexico USA Wrestling, and previously served in that position earlier in his career. Davidson also serves as a member of the USWOA Board. He received the Glen Blackman Award from the USWOA in 1989. Davidson was also the recipient of the Andy McWilliams Award in 1985 recognizing volunteer leadership in the Rocky Mountain states. Davidson served as State Chairperson for New Mexico USA Wrestling for 18 years. He was a high school wrestling coach in New Mexico for 15 years. He has had numerous coaching assignments with U.S. teams in both men's and women's wrestling. Davidson also served as a team leader for a number of other international tours. Davidson was head coach of the first U.S. Women's World Team in 1989. He was the coach of the first U.S. Women's World champion in 1992, when Tricia Saunders won her first World title at the World Championships in France. He was the 2003 Women's Junior World Team coach, when Ali Bernard won a Junior World title. Davidson coached the women's 2002 Pan American Championships team which won seven medals. "To be appreciated by your peers in an all-volunteer organization is the ultimate," said Davidson. "There aren't any tangible rewards for doing this. When your peers give you a compliment, you take it to heart. " "When there are so many others who sacrifice their money and their time for the sport, you really you might be crazy, but you are not alone. Everybody in this has the same level of passion for the sport," said Davidson. Official of the Year Award 1971 - Vince Zuaro, New York 1972 - Wes Hogland, Oregon 1973 - Dennis Fankhouser 1974 - Pat Lovell, California 1975 - Pat Lovell, California 1976 - Sam Williams. New York 1977 - Mick Pickford, Iowa 1978 - Charlie White, Colorado 1979 - Jon Schaus, Illinois 1980 - Don Sondgeroth, Colorado 1981 - Steve Bernhardt, Virginia 1982 - Gordon Weeks, Michigan 1983 - Bernie Norris, Illinois 1984 - Leroy Evans, California 1985 - Carolyn White, Colorado 1986 - Tony Melosci, New York 1987 - Santos Cageao, Ohio 1988 - Bob Dellinger, Oklahoma 1989 - Chuck Almeida, Florida 1990 - Eric Kopsch, Michigan 1991 - Sue Siar, Pennsylvania 1992 - Rick Tucci, Florida 1993 - Bill Stecklein, Pennsylvania 1994 - Jack Bowman, Indiana 1995 - Bob Siar, Sr., Pennsylvania 1996 - David Errett, Indiana 1997 - Chris Curtis, New Jersey 1998 - Tom Clark, Indiana 1999 - Mort Geller, Florida 2000 - Mike Hess, Washington 2001 - Tom Siar, Pennsylvania 2002 - Jan Hesser, Indiana 2003 - Douglas Molin, Indiana 2004 - John Branch, California 2005 - John Heyman, Florida 2006 - Jerry Kuntz, Oklahoma 2007 - Bill Hinchley, Minnesota 2008 - Toby Tobiasson, Utah 2009 - Rusty Davidson, New Mexico