Harty (’80) Makes Hall of Fame
Jim Harty (‘80) was one of six officials inducted into the class to the 2020-21 North Dakota Officials Association (NDOA) Hall of Fame.
Jim began officiating in 1976 at the age of 18 umpiring American Legion baseball games. Forty-four years later, Harty is still an active official in the state of North Dakota at both the collegiate and prep levels for both baseball and football.
The North Dakota High School Association expanded on Jim’s officiating career, noting:
During his career, Harty officiated eight NDHSAA Dakota Bowl football championship games (six of which he served as the white hat official – 2020, 2019, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2002) and 21 NDHSAA baseball state tournaments. The 2020 fall season marked his 36th officiating high school football.
A member and president of the Jamestown Football Officials Association, Harty has worked NAIA and NCAA Division II College Football games for 32 years and received several NAIA National Playoff game assignments during that time as well as working the 2018 NCAA Division II Mineral Water Bowl. Harty also worked as an official in the National Indoor Football League for four seasons officiating a total of seven NIFL playoff games and the 2000 NIFL Gold Cup Championship game.
Other baseball officiating highlights for Harty include working 20-plus American Legion State Tournaments, three American Legion Central Plains Regional Tournaments, and several NAIA postseason baseball tournaments.
Jim graduated from UJ in 1980 and owns Harty Insurance in Jamestown.
