Carter J. Rankin

Carter J. Rankin, 79, of Palm Desert passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. He was born in Evansville, Ind., 1934. Carter graduated from Lincoln High School and joined the Navy in 1951 upon graduation. He was stationed in Norfolk, Va. originally as an X-Ray technician. Carter successfully managed several medical supply companies over a 20-plus year career. This included specialties in inhalation therapy and acute care equipment. He started officiating basketball in 1967, working boys' and girls' high school, community college and NCAA Division II and III college games. He progressed to men's NCAA Division I ball in 1970 by working for the Pac-10 and the Western Collegiate conferences and the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (now known as the Big West Conference) until 1984. In 1986, he started working women's NCAA Division I games for the Pac-10 and the Western Collegiate conferences. Carter is the former Coordinator of Women's Basketball Officials for the Pac-10 Conference. As Coordinator he was responsible for the selection and assessment of basketball officials; assigning officials to all Pac-10 contests; training of officials and observers; maintaining a dialogue with coaches and senior women's administrators. He is also a former member of the NCAA officiating manual committee. Carter Rankin, was a former member of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Board of Directors from 1998-2002. In 1980, Carter created a basketball association where he served as a supervisor and coordinator of officials. He trained, evaluated and assigned officials. Carter was also instrumental in conducting basketball clinics for officials throughout California. In 2002, Carter and his wife Mary moved to Palm Desert where he enjoyed local music and the Arts. He was an avid golf putter. Carter is survived by his wife Mary, son Michael, daughter-in-law Gail and grandson Michael. A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palm Desert, California on Thursday February 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105