Hall of Fame
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Class
of 2006
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- denotes NATA Hall of Fame Member
Edgar Harold “Hal”
Biggs
Mr. Biggs spent 38 years as a certified
athletic trainer in Pennsylvania spending most of his career as the Head
Athletic Trainer for Bucknell University. Many former Bucknell
student-athletes return for alumni day to say “hi” and “thank you” to Hal.
It is said that he was such a strong positive influence on their
development, not only as a health care provider but also as a person. Hal,
in his low key but serious manner, was a strong positive force in the
development of PATS and brought a lot of expertise to his terms as NATA
District II Director. At political meetings you might think that he was
invisible until serious topics came up and then he was quite vocal and
presented well thought out positions. To have him as a friend was to have
a great gift. Those who did not know Hal might think that he is shy, but
nothing could be farther from the truth, he is just a careful man who does
indeed speak softly but carries a big stick and is not reticent to use it
when necessary. The athletic training services and facilities he developed
at Bucknell are a lasting testimonial to his resourcefulness and
dedication to provide the best health care that he could obtain for the
athletes. No visiting team ever needed to fear that their health care
needs would not be met. Hal took care of visitors with the same dedication
as he did his own athletic family. Mr. Biggs was an early leader in the
State and was instrumental in organizing many aspects of PATS. He served
as PATS President and as NATA District II Director. He was inducted into
the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 1983.
Joseph A. Blankowitsch, Jr.
The late
Mr. Blankowitsch, who passed away in 1984, spent 32 years as an athletic
trainer serving college and high school athletes in the Allentown and
Bethlehem area. He was an original as a high school athletic trainer and
the humble servant and glue that kept the Eastern Athletic Trainers’
Association meetings together. He was very quiet and efficient in
organization matters. He was always ready to perform any task that was
needed. He was a very friendly man and good friend of Fran Sheridan; the
two of them were a good team at the annual meetings. Joe had a deep
affection for the high school athlete that directed him to help them
anyway he could. In those early days of the profession funding for
supplies and equipment was scarce at best and almost nonexistent in most
high schools. Joe was a well-known resourceful scavenger who exhausted
every possible source for supplies and equipment. He was an annual
receiver of products from the exhibitors at the EATA Meeting. Mr.
Blankowitsch was NATA District II Director, and President of EATA. He
spent 21 years as the NATA National Convention Registration Chairman and a
longtime Registration Chairman for the EATA. Mr. Blankowitsch was inducted
into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 1972. Mr.
Blankowitsch’s daughter Mrs. Pat Whirl accepted his honor.
Richard Burkholder
Mr.
Burkholder has been serving the student-athletes at Carlisle High School
as the Certified Athletic Trainer for the past 41 years, retired from
teaching but still serving as an athletic trainer. He represents the model
that we all wish for every secondary school athletic program. He was the
one constant for the early years of PATS, keeping records and recording
the important items and events. He was and is an untiring servant of the
profession and the athletes he serves. No present or future athletic
trainer could find a better father figure for the profession. He is as
emotionally balanced as we have, with a great sense of humor. The best
balance of caring with passion and the results of lessons learned with
expert observation skills and a strong drive for knowledge. He has the
insight to evaluate athletic performance and recognize the early signs of
health problems. Today there are others like him in high schools of the
State, but he was one of the firsts and served to help educate the present
group. A PATS Founding Member in 1976, he was the Society’s first
Secretary-Treasurer and a co-author of the original PATS By-Laws and
Constitution. The Carlisle Sports Association Unsung Hero Award is
presented in his honor annually to a male and female athlete who best fits
the description of an “unsung hero”.
Otho L. Davis
The late Mr. Davis, who passed away on May 2nd,
2000 is probably best known as the former Executive Director of the
National Athletic Trainer’s Association, a position he held from
1971-1989. More of his accomplishments are recorded in the minutes of NATA
Board Meetings than any one of us knows. He was very politically astute at
a time when the profession needed it. He knew how to work the crowd and
find those who would help us build a stronger, better financed
professional organization. His abilities to serve as a political force at
a time that the professional organization most needed it may eventually
prove to be more obvious than all the other talents that have been so will
expressed these past few months. He was willing and able to spend the time
and energy in organizational matters when no one else was. He gave a lot
of young athletic trainers opportunities to get professional football
experience and then helped them get jobs. He was very helpful during the
early days of the professional education committee and arranged for
funding for a variety of conferences and research for accreditation. He
was unique in his ability to gather support from community members outside
the world of sport. He was, in short, responsible for a lot of our
profession’s growth. Mr. Davis is a PATS founding member from 1976 and our
second President. It should be noted that Mr. Davis supported the creation
of State organizations, such as PATS; at a time when our National
Association was unsure that such action might prove detrimental to the
future of the NATA. The subsequent growth of both the NATA and State
Societies demonstrated his vision in 1976. He was the Head Athletic
Trainer for the Philadelphia Eagles for 23 years and was voted the
Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year (encompassing all professional
leagues) five times. First time Otho Davis Scholarship recipient Mr.
Robbie Incmikoski accepted Mr. Davis’ honor.
Phillip B. Donley
Mr. Donley has spent 40 years evaluating,
treating and rehabilitating athletic injuries for athletes at all levels
of competition and ages. He has had personal and professional experience
with each member of this induction class and also with a great many of the
first generation of athletic trainers nationally. It may be that his best
contribution was to assemble the information he gained from those
associations and structure its presentation in a way so a new generation
of athletic trainers could learn from it. Mr. Donley served on the faculty
and as Head Athletic Trainer at West Chester University for 26 years. He
was a really good teacher. His former students love him. His Athletic
Training Education Program was not only the first in the State, but also
the first Co-ed program in the country. In 1965 he established a Co-ed
athletic training room when few schools had one. He was a pioneer in
helping women enter the field and hired the first full time female
athletic trainer in 1966. Along with Bud Miller they were the heart and
soul of early athletic training education. He is dedicated to the
profession and is always there when you need him in professional
organization matters. He continues to work behind the scenes to get things
done and pushes his peers to step forward to take leadership roles. Three
of his former students have served as Society President. In addition to
being elected to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame
in 1991, Mr. Donley was awarded the NATA Distinguished Athletic Training
Educator’s Award. His legacy can be found throughout our state Society and
in its members.
Charles E. “Chuck” Medlar
The late Mr. Medlar, who passed away in 1999,
spent 35 years working as an athletic trainer at the Pennsylvania State
University, working primarily with their football team. He was a strong
professional baseball prospect who was injured and continued in athletics,
after a tour in the military in WW II, to help establish the foundation of
the athletic health care system at Penn State University. Additionally he
served as its Head Baseball coach for 15 years. His teams were always
ready to play hard and they never let up regardless of the score. He was a
strong critic of any care that was less than meeting a high standard. When
he spoke to you, his large size and firm manner forced you to listen.
Athletes, student trainers and coaches knew who the boss was in the
athletic training room. Yet, his love of his peers in the profession made
it easy for them to converse with him. For those he trusted, he was a
frequent advisor. He was unique in that he taped knees and ankles while he
was sitting down on a stool. He was at Penn State long enough to work with
four different Head Football coaches. The respect he earned from the Penn
State coaches was the same as they gave to their assistant coaches and his
recommendations about a player’s readiness to play was rarely questioned.
He was in every way a man’s man. He left little doubt about the importance
that he felt for both the Eastern Athletic Trainer’s Association and the
National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He was and early organizer in
both organizations. He was an attendee at the very first EATA and NATA
conventions in 1949 and 1950. He was the Head Athletic Trainer for the
1968 Mexico City Olympics. Dr. David Joyner accepted Mr. Medlar’s honor.
David George Moyer, MD
The late Dr. Moyer, who passed away in 1976,
was the Team Physician for three schools simultaneously, (Germantown
Academy, North Penn High School, and Lafayette College). Dr. Moyer is
honored as the first physician inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic
Trainers’ Hall of Fame. He was one of the first to organize a sports
medicine symposium, the Germantown Sports Medicine Symposium. The faculty
of each symposium was eclectic in makeup with speakers from every
profession that impacted the health care of athletes. He was a man of
renaissance proportions who brought his vast knowledge of medicine, the
classics, and the arts to form a love affair with athletes. He appreciated
the beauty of it and its participants and the effect of exercise on the
body. He acted in plays and wrote plays. His extensive library of more
than 5,000 volumes contained subject matter that extended will beyond
anyone’s imagination. He was a founding trustee for the American College
of Sports Medicine. He was a great friend of the Athletic Trainer. He
pushed for every secondary school to have an athletic trainer. He praised
their work in all the sports medicine talks he gave to both medical and
civic groups. He was a strong, early supporter for national certification
of athletic trainers. It would be easy to underestimate the exact
magnitude of his contributions to the development of sports medicine in
the State and the nation because all of his efforts occurred before 1975.
From 1960 to 1975, there was no stronger advocate for athletic trainers
and the search for better ways to provide the best health care for
athletes. The EATA’s most prestige award is named after Dr. Moyer and is
presented annually to the team physician who goes “beyond the practice of
medicine and gives of his/herself as a humanitarian to the community to
improve the quality of life in general”. Dr. Moyer’s daughter Ms.
Elizabeth J. Moyer accepted his honor.
Theodore “Ted” Quedenfeld
Every athletic trainer serving in a clinic setting
today owes a big debt of gratitude for Ted opening that door of
opportunity. Mr. Quedenfeld is credited with developing the first
University/Hospital based Sports Medicine Center and the first Clinic
Based outreach program for high school athletes in the United States. The
direct result of his significant achievement was the creation of jobs for
athletic trainers outside the “traditional setting.” This single event
marked a milestone in the history of our profession. Mr. Quedenfeld is
widely recognized as the father of the ‘clinical athletic trainer” in the
United States. More than 50% of all athletic trainers nationally are
employed in a nontraditional clinical athletic training/sports medicine
setting. This demonstrates more so than anything else the impact of Ted’s
pioneering move from the traditional setting. His example and
encouragement taught untold numbers of physicians how to duplicate his
clinical structure with staffing by athletic trainers. No one ever doubted
where Ted stood on any issue, he told you straight out and loud. A deeply
religious person who was extremely loyal to his colleagues and those he
worked for. The designs of most sports medicine clinics today are mild
variations of those that Ted designed for Temple University Hospital. In
the early days, no one thought patients would come for health care to a
place that looked like an athletic training room. He was the Head Athletic
Trainer at Temple University for 16 years and then moved onto Temple
University Center for Sports Medicine as their Administrative Director for
20 years. Mr. Quedenfeld was President of EATA and inducted into Temple
University’s Hall of Fame. He is the author of many of our Society’s
original documents and was instrumental in the early organizational
efforts of Pennsylvania athletic trainers.
Francis J. Sheridan
The late
Mr. Sheridan spent over 30 years as an athletic trainer at Phillipsburg
High School and Lafayette College. He along with his friend and
professional colleague, Dr. David George Moyer, established a strong
formal athletic health care service for Lafayette College. He was a
regular presenter at coaching clinics, athletic training seminars and
strongly involved in our Eastern and National organizations, serving as
District II Director for two terms. One of Mr. Sheridan’s fellow inductees
felt that Fran had the neatest athletic training room he had ever been in,
everything with a place and everything in its place. Because Fran was a
licensed Physical Therapist in New Jersey he felt he needed to establish
the same type of environment in the athletic training room. Always in a
white uniform he presented an obvious sign of cleanliness and order in his
manner. He was always around professional meetings, supporting them and
presenting various topics. He liked the political challenges provided by
his role as NATA District II Director. He was very involved in placing
athletic trainers and working for the welfare of members of our
profession. Mr. Sheridan devoted a great deal of his free time to
international events. These included: Pan American Games in Winnipeg,
Canada, AAU Track and Field Team, (which toured Germany, Poland, and the
Soviet Union), and as an athletic trainer for the US Olympic Track and
Field Team which competed against the Soviet Union after the 1976
Olympics. He is also a member of the NATA Hall of Fame. Mr. Sheridan’s
daughter Mrs. Peggy Harrison accepted his honor.
Bruce Vogelsong
Mr. Vogelsong served as an athletic
trainer for 34 years at Mechanicsburg High School and Dickinson College.
He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of
Fame. Mr. Vogelsong was a founding member of our State Society in 1976. He
was an early pioneer in the organization of sports medicine meetings to
educate coaches. Never one to lead a parade, to call attention to himself
or his efforts but let others rave about how much they learned from him
and achievements of athletes he cared for. A shinning example of the model
small college athletic trainer set in a time when many large Universities
and colleges had no athletic trainer. Mr. Vogelsong set a high standard, a
real pioneer in our State and profession. He had a quiet manner that often
hid his expertise and he was not flamboyant. A believer in neat and tidy
athletic training rooms, he once scolded a salesman for bringing a gift of
powdered donuts into the room because it was too messy. He had the perfect
personality for a caregiver. It was at Dickinson College where he provided
student-athletes with much more than his services as an athletic trainer.
He opened his home and befriended countless student-athletes there. He was
inducted into the Dickinson College Sports Hall of Fame.
Howard Waite
The late Mr. Waite spent the majority of his
athletic training career at the University of Pittsburgh. He served as
NATA District II Director and is a member of the National Athletic
Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame. When he came to the University of
Pittsburgh he was suffering from crippling arthritis in his hip. Along
with his close friend, a polio victim, Dr. William Smith, the developed
and amazingly effective athletic health care service. They invented and
patented supports and braces for protecting and enhancing athletic
activity. Pitt football fans finally got used to seeing the limping
athletic trainer and limping doctor make their way onto the field to help
an injured player because their reputation for excellent care was common
knowledge in Pittsburgh and elsewhere. He was an early organizer of our
Eastern and National organizations. He was a mild mannered man who coached
the athletes with information and reason. They were usually quick to
respond to his directions because of his successful record. He was very
savvy about the life styles of athletes and knew how to motivate them to
avoid making their conditions worse. The coaching staffs considered him to
be more valuable than any coach. He left the University of Colorado in the
late 30’s to go to Pitt. While at Colorado he took care of the
All-American, Wizzar White and was a life long friend of the Supreme Court
Justice. Howard was never too busy to listen and he carefully analyzed new
and relative information. He was a warm and gracious, caring man. He had
time for everyone and felt he needed to listen to everyone so he would be
well advised for any situation. He treated everyone the same, as equals.
Mr. Willie Myers accepted Mr. Waite’s honor.
G. E. "Moose" Detty
Garnett E. “Moose” Detty, inducted into the NATA
Hall of Fame in 1994, was considered an “Ambassador” of Athletic Training.
During his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1961 - 1975 he
preached to all the importance of the new field of athletic training. He
educated medical school students, podiatry students, orthopaedic
residents, physicians, college student athletic trainers, high school
administrators and even local clubs on the role of this new health care
professional - the athletic trainer - in the care of injured athletes. The
native Oklahoman is a decorated Marine from his service to our country at
the Battle of Midway during World War II. He was a successful Golden Glove
Boxer where he was not only a Tri State and Fleet Marine Corp Heavyweight
Champion but also a successful coach. In 1952 he was selected AAU Boxing
Coach of the Year and tutored the 1952 Olympic Gold Medalist. His
ingenuity led to the use of newly discovered neoprene and its use for
athletes. He turned this into a successful business and retired from
athletic training in 1975. Pro Orthopaedics allowed him to give back to
the profession he loved. Pro was the sole sponsor of the PATS Newsletter
for several years and sponsored many other District and State Newsletters
and provided scholarship opportunities for future athletic trainers. He
also established the Warren Lee Trust fund, named in honor of the Head
Athletic Trainer at the University of Arizona who died during his tenure
there. Moose received the first PATS Service Award in 1991, retired as
Pro’s CEO in 1994 and resides in Tucson, AZ.
Joseph J. Godek
Limited space cannot do justice to the
contributions Joe Godek has accomplished over the last three decades on
the local, state, regional, national and international levels. The 1999
NATA Hall of Fame inductee was a charter member of PATS, oversaw the
drafting of the Commonwealth’s initial Athletic Training legislation,
served as liaison to the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association from
1979 - 1983 and sat on the Athletic Trainers' Advisory Committee from 1984
- 1988. He was the EATA President from 1978 - 1984 and District II
Director from 1987 - 1993. During his last year as District Director, he
served as Vice President of the NATA. If service were not enough, Joe has
been a strong proponent of education both in and out the classroom. He has
been an instrumental part of the undergraduate education program at West
Chester University since 1972 mentoring nearly 1000 students. Outside the
classroom he served as program chair for the EATA meetings in 1978 &
79 and the NATA convention in 1980. His scholarship is evident by numerous
lectures at meetings worldwide, numerous articles and other publications.
He also served as editor to Athletic Therapy Today and served on the
Editorial Board of the Journal of Rehabilitation. He has received numerous
awards including: inducted into the Legion of Honor of Four Chaplains in
1980, received the EATA Cramer Award in 1985; the PATS Distinguished
Service Award in 1986; the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award
in 1994 and granted full Professorship at West Chester in 1994. Joe is
also dedicated to his community. He gave several speeches to local school
districts to improve Adaptive Physical Education Programs and Pre Season
Athletic Physicals and gladly gave time to advise local coaches and
athletic trainers. He spent 15 years assisting the community's handicapped
children’s swim program.
Willie Myers
Willie Myers is the first of two athletic trainers
to have worked both at Penn State and The University of Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania Athletic Trainer Hall of Famer Chuck Medlar hired the 1957
Penn State graduate right out of school. In August of 1965 he was tempted
from his Alma Mater by the University of Pittsburgh to be their Head
Athletic Trainer and served the Panther student-athletes until 1973. He
became a Sales Representative for various athletic companies including
Johnson & Johnson, Bike, Riddell and Russell Athletic. He retired in
1999 and now works as a part time rep for Medco. Willie continued to touch
the lives of the student-athletes at Somerset High School from 1973 - 1985
where he volunteered his services and presently assists Penn State during
their pre season camp each summer. He is a founding father of athletic
training in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and charter member of PATS.
He was given honorary membership to the NATA in 1985 and recognized by
PATS with its Service Award in 1992.
David J. Tomasi
David J. Tomasi, known by all as Tomas, was the
“Keystone” to athletic training students at Lock Haven for 25 years. He
mentored over 250 student athletic trainers to their success today. Dave
was not only dedicated to teaching and caring for every student, but also
to the profession of athletic training within the Commonwealth. As a
charter member of PATS he served on the Licensure and A-V committees and
was elected to the Executive Board as its' Central Representative.
Regionally he served as the President of the EATA and the Chair of the
EATA Scholarship and Fund Raising committee. As a speaker he has presented
seminars in Taiwan and China as well as spoke at the NATA and EATA annual
meetings. Dave was also a leader in his community as a founding member of
the Mill Hall Rotary Club and served for the Borough Council chairing the
Finance Committee. In 1987 he received the EATA Cramer Award and is the
only dual recipient of the PATS Distinguished Merit and PATS Service
Award. The most cherished of his awards is from his former students; in
1995, they established the David J. Tomasi Scholarship at Lock Haven,
endowing scholarships to promising athletic training students for years to
come.
Joe Torg, MD
When we think of Philadelphia and Sports Medicine,
one of the first names to come to mind is Joe Torg. Along with
Pennsylvania Athletic Trainer Hall of Famer Ted Quedenfeld, he established
the first outreach Sports Medicine Clinic in the country at Temple
University in 1974. Dr. Torg initiated similar programs at The University
of Pennsylvania and MCP-Hahnemann hospitals. He served as team physician
for three of the four Philadelphia professional sports teams - the
Phillies, the Eagles and the 76ers, The University of Pennsylvania and
counseled thousands of athletes of all ages in the Greater Philadelphia
area. One of Dr. Torg’s loves is research. His numerous research projects
made a profound impact upon the sporting world. Teaming again with Ted
Quedenfeld their research changed football in two major ways: first with
the modification of cleats and secondly the banning of spearing in
football.
Rudy Corona
In September 2002, Rudolph "Rudy" Corona,
from Western Pennsylvania, will celebrate his 50th year in the
profession of Athletic Training. He was instrumental in bringing Athletic
Training and Sports Medicine into the Commonwealth’s Western region.
Butler Area Schools, where he was the school’s first athletic trainer,
Seneca Valley School District, Grove City Schools and Butler County
Community College can all thank Rudy for bringing ATC’s to their schools.
After serving his country in the Navy he became Slippery Rock University
(then State College)’s first athletic trainer. Not to rest on his laurels,
he also has been extremely active in the State, serving as a member of the
medical teams that covered the Keystone State Games, Special Olympics -
Butler County, the Pittsburgh Marathon, and many, PIAA Championship
events. He has continued to support the profession throughout his long
career by speaking to numerous civic and youth sporting groups on the
value of athletic training. The Butler Area Red Cross recently recognized
him for 40 years of service to his community. His work has not gone
unnoticed in some very high places, as he was invited to and attended two
state dinners at the White House during the Nixon and Regan
administrations for his work with drugs and alcohol with young people.
Rudy was a Founding Father of Athletic Training in the Commonwealth, and
inducted into both the Butler Area and Slippery Rock Sports Halls of Fame.
I. O. Silver, MD
Dr. Silver holds legendary status in Central Pennsylvania where
he served as the team physician for Steelton High School from 1947 – 1986.
Upon his "retirement", he became Doctor Emeritus for Steelton for eight
more years where he consoled, counseled and attended to thousands of
Steelton and Steelton-Highspire student-athletes. During his amazing 47
years of service, he missed only 3 football games and 10 practices!!!
Dr. Silver was truly dedicated to serving his community as made apparent by the throngs of athletes from the Harrisburg area who would fill his medical office. As the number of PIAA events increased, it was Dr. Silver who gladly answered the call to sit courtside for all PIAA events held at Hershey Arena; in 1957 he recruited several colleagues to cover the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic. He held this position until he became physically unable to perform his duties during the late 1980’s.
It also was common knowledge that Dr. Silver not only cared for his athletes physically, but he also assisted many of these them financially as they went off to college. Because of his selfless dedication, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, and honored with I.O. Silver Day by the Harrisburg Patriots Football team in the 1980’s. On June 8, 1996 was posthumously honored by the City of Harrisburg with Dr. I.O. Silver Day.
John Thatcher
John "Thatch" Thatcher has been instrumental in
establishing certified athletic trainers in eight high schools in
northeastern PA and across the river in New Jersey. In addition to his
many duties as the Program Director for the CAAHEP-accredited Athletic
Training Education Program at East Stroudsburg University, he still finds
time to counsel local high school, amateur and professional athletes who
are referred to him by local physicians.
In addition to volunteering in his own community and for many statewide events, he was extremely active within PATS for many years, serving on its Professional Education, Long Range Planning & Finance, and Membership Committees; he also served as a member of the Board of Directors as its Treasurer. He presently assists the JRC-AT in evaluation of Athletic Training Programs through out the country.
Despite all of these responsibilities and activities, it is still in front of the classroom where Thatch has excelled. He will be recognized as the recipient of the 2002 NATA’s Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award. John prides himself in mentoring and educating the hundred of students who have graduated from East Stroudsburg University. An alumnus himself, he and long time colleague Lois Wagner - developed the CAAHEP-accredited program 28 years ago. His teaching prowess spilled over into the local community where he continues to be sought as a speaker on sports medicine topics.
Romeo M. Capozzi
Romeo Capozzi, known as “Rome or Doc,” served the
athletes of Gettysburg College, South Central Pennsylvania and Northern
Maryland for forty-one years. Rome’s ability and willingness to help
injured athletes spread by word of mouth to athletes and coaches in the
area.
Rome attended Pennsylvania State University in Philadelphia to become an engineer. He worked for a short time for the city of Philadelphia, building the municipal field complex presently known as Franklin Field. Rome worked with Olympic coach Jim Larson at the University of Pennsylvania, until Hen Bream brought him to Gettysburg College in 1927. Rome was never on the faculty at Gettysburg College, but though his actions he pioneered the vocation of athletic training. He promoted his vocation by helping high school, college, professional and amateur athletes throughout the two state areas.
Rome demanded the respect of all coaches he worked with and all the athletes that he treated. He encouraged his philosophy of athletic training by speaking with coaches and stressing the importance of conditioning their athletes. Rome was very talented, a series of freehand anatomical drawings that he produced are still displayed in the athletic training room at Gettysburg College with the originals in the Gettysburg College archives.
Rome retired from Athletic Training in 1971 after forty-one years at Gettysburg College and passed away three years later. He mentored students such as Gareth “Lefty” Biser, a founding father of PATS.
Michael Cordas, Jr., D.O., F.A.O.A.S., F.A.A.F.P.
Dr. Michael Cordas, the ultimate friend, in the
eyes of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society, is a Pennsylvania boy
through and through. He is a graduate of Susquehanna University and the
Medical School at Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He
currently serves the athletes and people of Harrisburg and Central
Pennsylvania as Director of Sports Medicine for the Arlington Group in
Harrisburg. Before arriving in Harrisburg, he was the Team Physician and
Medical Director at Susquehanna University and the team physician for
football and wrestling at The Pennsylvania State University (1994-97).
Dr. Cordas is Board Certified in Family Practice and has a deep-seated interest in the youth of our State and Country. Since 1986 he has served on the Governor’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. He has been a member the PATS, Medical Board of Advisors since 1994 and has served as Advisor to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association since 1980. Dr. Cordas has been the, Chief Medical Officer at the Pennsylvania Keystone Games for fourteen years. He also has served as the Event Physician for the P.I.A.A. State Wrestling Championships since 1986, Football and Track Championships since 1993.
Dr. Cordas was instrumental in aiding the PATS legislative efforts during the past ten years. He served on PATS committees, attended meetings, luncheons and testified before State Senate committees on our behalf. His support of the field of athletic training was deeply felt in the legislative arena.
Dr. Cordas presently serves on the faculty of Penn State College of Medicine and is the Director of Sports Medicine, Performance Sports Medicine Division of the Arlington Group in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
George “Speed” Ebersole
George “Speed” Ebersole grew up in Lower Paxton.
He played Football for famous high school coaches Roscoe Warner and Dick
Gracie. As a high school student Speed remembers wrapping and taping
ankles for his fellow athletes. This was an interest that he pursued and
promoted through his whole life although not his vocation.
He graduated Lower Paxton High School 1942 and immediately enlisted in the Navy. He was trained as a Pharmacist mate and served in the Pacific Theater. He is a combat veteran of five beachheads in the south pacific, serving with Company C, 1st Marine Division. He left active duty in 1946 and returned to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
He returned to LowerPaxton High School now known as Central Dauphin High School as their athletic trainer. He served Central Dauphin athletes and athletes from many of the surrounding schools of the Central Pennsylvania area for 54 years. Speed retired from Central Dauphin High School in 2000.
Speed will tell you that he did start getting paid $500.00 after a while. Speed was grandfathered into the NATA. He used his military training as well as learning from such friends as Bruce Vogelsong, Dick Burkholder and Otho Davis to remain current in the athletic training field. His concern for his athletes and the way he treated them has inspired many of his students to become athletic trainers and physicians. Speed has worked with athletes at all levels, but fondly recalls being brought to a New York Jet’s game by one of his ex-athletes, Mickey Schuler. Speed certainly paved the way for us that were to follow.
Gareth "Lefty" Biser
Gareth (Lefty) Biser is an "old school" Founding
Father of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society and an early
promoter of athletic training in south central Pennsylvania. Lefty came to
the Keystone State from just below the Mason-Dixon line to pitch for
Gettysburg College's baseball team. However, he had an interest in taking
care of athletes and in 1953 met Romeo Capozzi, the Athletic Trainer at
Gettysburg. This relationship led Lefty to a career in athletic training.
He graduated in 1957 and then worked for Jules Reichel at Syracuse
University where he earned his master's degree. In 1959 he returned to his
alma mater as assistant athletic trainer and instructor of Health and
Physical Education. During his 41-year tenure Lefty would serve as
Assistant and Head Athletic Trainer as well as Chairman of the Department
of Health and Physical Education. In these positions he continuously
promoted athletic training and served as an outstanding teacher and mentor
for numerous students interested in athletic training. He created an
outstanding NATA Internship program at Gettysburg College working within
the Liberal Arts curriculum. Throughout his career he taught almost every
course in the Health and Physical Education curriculum. Many of his
students recall the six-hour lab practicals in Human Anatomy and
Physiology. Not only was Lefty an innovative instructor (he used animal
parts in lab when cadavers were not available) but a leader in curriculum
design. He initiated the NATA Athletic Training Internship program at
Gettysburg College and guided the change of the department from Health and
Physical Education to Health and Exercise Science. He served as mentor to
aspiring HPE teachers, athletic trainers, physical therapists and
physicians. He was awarded the Lindback Outstanding Teaching Award at
Gettysburg College in 1992 and in 1990 he was awarded the "Salute to
Teaching" award from the Pennsylvania Academy for the Profession of
Teaching. He has been recognized numerous times by the community, the
college and the students for his caring attitude toward athletes, students
and his fellow human beings. Lefty served as athletic trainer for the Big
33 football competition from 1974-1984. He answered the call of the United
States Olympic Committee in 1987,89,92 and 94 to work at Festivals and the
World Games. He has presented at numerous workshops on athletic training
and career days throughout the commonwealth. He has been an outstanding
instructor of CPR since 1958. Lefty and his wife, Shirley Ann have three
children.
Alexander Kalenak, MD
Dr. Alexander Kalenak; call him "a good old boy" and you'd better
watch out. He still practices at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and
is a Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. Dr. Kalenak grew up in
western Pennsylvania in the town of Nanty-Glo. He did his undergraduate
studies at Penn State and then attended Medical School at Hahnemann
University in Philadelphia. Then he left his beloved Pennsylvania for an
Internship in Ohio and Residency in Virginia. After a short stint in
Albany, New York, Dr. Kalenak returned to his Alma Mater and home state of
Pennsylvania to stay. In 1973, he was named the Team Orthopaedic Surgeon
at Penn State and served as Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of
Orthopaedics at Milton Hershey Medical Center. All during these
educational experiences it seems that physicians and athletic trainers
working with athletes impressed Alexander Kalenak. While a student at Penn
State, he met Dr. Griessy, Dr. Sam Fleigle and Mr. Chuck Medlar, an
athletic trainer, and these individuals impressed him in how well they
took care of their athletes. While enrolled at Hahnemann he met Dr. Green
of the Philadelphia Eagles. In Virginia he befriended Dr. Frank McCue and
Mr. Joe Geick of the University of Virginia. He admired and learned from
all these people. In the early 70's he helped establish a Sports Medicine
Service at Albany Medical Center. This led him into contact with many
leaders in the pioneer days of the Sport Medicine movement: Dr. Jim
Nicholas, Dr. Don Slocum, Dr. Jim Andrews, Dr. Joe Godfrey and Dr. Jack
Houston. These prominent and well-known physicians and athletic trainers
such as Chuck Medlar, and Jim Hochberg molded Dr. Kalenak into a leader in
the field. Dr. Kalenak served as Team Orthopedic Surgeon at Penn State
from 1973-1995; since 1978 he has served on the Governor's Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports. He has volunteered for the United States
Olympic Committee, the Keystone Games and the Big 33 Football Classic. He
is a prolific speaker and has promoted Sports Medicine and Athletic
Training throughout the Commonwealth. The EATA has honored Dr. Kalenak by
awarding him the Moyer Award. Dr. Kalenak is a regular participant at our
PATS Symposium and continues to be a great friend to all athletic trainers
in Pennsylvania. Dr. Kalenak continues to work at Penn State Hershey
Medical Center taking care of athletes and athletic injuries. He lives in
Hummelstown with his wife Beth and has two sons and one daughter.
Jack Rea, Jr.
Jack Rea, Jr., is a "founding father" of The
Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society. He is a hard worker, a great guy,
"Dad", and a very professional caring person. These all describe Jack Rea.
A legend in Western Pennsylvania in the field of athletic training, he
spent 36 years as the Head Athletic Trainer at Washington and Jefferson
College. Many awards have been bestowed to Jack, such as the NATA 25 Year
Award; he has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association
since 1963. He received an NCAA Outstanding Contribution Award for his
work with the National Wrestling Championships in 1975, a Knights of
Columbus Special Award for activity with the youth in his community, and a
Commendation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for his
Induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Jack has always been
volunteering and serving his community, his college and his nation; he is
a veteran of the Korean War. Jack constantly promoted athletic training by
working in the NATA for certification and the formation of a professional
organization within Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers'
Society. He continued to volunteer, serving as registration chair for the
state meeting and serving a co-chair for job placement of athletic
trainers in Pennsylvania. Jack is known as "a man whose interest in his
profession is matched by his interest in people." Many of the athletes at
Washington and Jefferson fondly refer to Jack as "Dad" because of his
caring nature and the paternalistic treatment he used in helping them deal
with their injuries. Many of the students that mentored under the tutelage
of Jack Rea are prominent in the profession. Jack and his wife, Dorris
have two children. Call him "old school", a founding father, major
contributor, or simply "Dad" but welcome Jack into the Pennsylvania
Athletic Trainers' Hall of Fame.
Lois Wagner
Midwestern girl comes East to make her mark. Well she did but
that is not the Lois Wagner personality. Hailing from Tripoli, Iowa, Lois
came to Philadelphia to the University of Pennsylvania Physical Therapy
School in 1967. She had a sincere interest in human movement and
rehabilitation. She loved to teach and interact with students. She moved
to East Stroudsburg University where she began doing just that and was
awarded a Master's degree in 1971. Lois has worked with the athletes of
East Stroudsburg University in the clinic (athletic training room) for 31
years and subsequently has taken on full-time faculty responsibilities as
an Associate Professor, in the Movement Studies and Exercise Science
Department. Lois has served on numerous committees at the University, in
her community and for PATS. She received her 25-year award from the NATA
and a merit award from the American Cancer Society. In 2001, Lois received
a Letter of Commendation from The Women in Athletic Training Committee of
the NATA. The commendation reads, "You have been one of the pioneers in
our field. Your time, efforts, and contributions to not only the field of
athletic training, but to the role of women in athletic training are
greatly appreciated." Lois is certainly one of the first female certified
athletic trainers in the United States and in Pennsylvania. Lois has
always been an educator and an investigator. She has published many
professional articles but will be remembered most by her students as a
tough, no nonsense, fair, and compassionate person. As an athletic trainer
and educator she has earned the respect of her students, athletes, alums
and friends. John Thatcher, her friend and fellow Hall of Fame member,
writes "her work in all aspects of her professional life has been
tireless. Her devotion to her students and her colleagues is second to
none. Her honesty and integrity are irreproachable. In our athletic
training education program, what really distinguishes her is her absolute
commitment to quality. Students know by her example as well as her
insistence that they better do it right (the first time)! I think maybe
I've been reminded of that myself on occasion, and I thank Lois for that."
Lois truly has been a female pioneer and role model for women in Athletic
Training in Pennsylvania.
Sayers J. "Bud" Miller
Sayers "Bud" Miller, (1930-1980), born in
Indiana, was literally a "mover and a shaker!" He was a scholar and
practitioner in the profession. He was a dreamer and designer of the
future of the athletic training profession. He was born into the arena of
Sport medicine. His dad was the Team Physician at Purdue University and
worked with Pinky Newell as did Bud. Bud Miller's academic preparation
consisted of: a Bachelors and Master's Degree from Purdue University, a
Certificate of Proficiency in Physical Therapy from the University of
Pennsylvania and doctoral study work at Stanford University. He covered
most of the country while studying and the rest while working. Bud Miller
began his professional career as a Wrestling coach, Health teacher and
Athletic Trainer at the high school level in Illinois. He then went to a
hospital physical therapy department in Indiana for one year and then to
Moorhead State College in Minnesota. In 1958 he joined the faculty of Ball
State University, Indiana, where he served as Head Athletic Trainer and
Physical Therapist. His next move, in 1969, was to the University of
Washington for the Head Athletic Trainers position. In 1974, Bud returned
to Pennsylvania, to the Pennsylvania State University where he would pilot
the development of the Athletic Training Education Program and serve a
Program Coordinator. At the same time he joined Casey Clarke in
kicking-off the National Athletic Injury Reporting System (NAIRS). He also
served as the Men's Basketball Athletic Trainer. Bud continued to serve in
this capacity while writing pertinent articles for," Athletic Training,"
authoring books and speaking in the field until his untimely death in
1980. His students remember him fondly and in high esteem as an educator
and athletic trainer. He served not only Penn State University in
developing their professional education program but was chairman of the
Subcommittee on Curriculum Development, part of the Professional
Advancement Committee of the NATA(1966-68). He served as Chairman of the
NATA Professional Education Committee from 1968-1978. Bud also served on
the NATA, BOD 1972-74. Bud Miller had the dream of an emerging profession,
the design of a professional education program and the drive to set high
standards and make changes to accomplish them. These thoughts and actions
have benefited all of us. We acknowledge his accomplishments and thank him
for his hard work. Bud and Shirley Miller had three children John, Laurie,
and Kristie. John, who also is a certified athletic trainer and physical
therapist and widely educated, will accept this award on his father's
behalf.
Cecilia L. Yost
Cecilia L. Yost, formerly Cecilia Leonard,
hails from the Philadelphia area. At lower Merion High School, she
competed in lacrosse and field hockey and graduated in 1972. She chose
East Stroudsburg University to pursue her interest in the allied health
fields and education. She played lacrosse while at East Stroudsburg and
landed in the Athletic Training room for help due to a car accident. There
she met athletic trainers John Thatcher and Bruce Haynes. Through these
relationships, she developed an intense interest in athletic training. She
graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1976 with a teaching degree
in Health and Physical Education and a concentration in athletic training.
The next two years were extremely busy for "Ceal". She married Kevin Yost in 1977, became a certified Athletic Trainer in 1978 and completed a Master's of Science Degree in Physical Education at East Stroudsburg University, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Sills. In 1978, she was hired at Stroudsburg High School as a part-time athletic trainer. The administration at Stroudsburg realized what a great professional they had and fought to make her full-time the next year. She was rehired as a half-time teacher of adapted physical education and half-time athletic trainer.
Ceal's involvement with the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society' began early in her career. She was the first chairperson (1987) to computerize the membership list with help of Frank Tatusko and her "Atari" computer. This provided the Board of Directors the statistics to enable PATS to make advances in regional representation and legislative endeavors. Integrating the mailing list provided opportunities for advances with the annual symposium, newsletters, and the organizational directory; all this while she was serving as Parliamentarian for the Board of Directors (1986-88).
Dennis Clark and Mark Keppler were so impressed with her work they asked her to run for President of PATS. In 1988, she was elected and in 1990 became the first female President of PATS. She worked diligently in promoting the profession on the local, state and national level during her term in office. She continued to serve on the Honors and awards committee until 2004. She worked to develop, promote and write an athletic training curriculum for the high school level. The Board of Education accepted it and she still teaches in that curriculum today. It is one of the most popular classes in the school and many of her students have gone on to study in the health field. She has been awarded the 1990 MBM Award, the 1990 Pocono Mountain Jaycee's Award and the 1997 PATS Service Award.
Ceal continues to be high spirited, highly motivated, and driven toward her life's goals. She is very involved with her family, husband Tom and daughter Cailin, and in her community. Ceal is a true leader in the athletic training profession in Pennsylvania and we thank her.
Dr. David M. Joyner, MD
Doctor David Joyner grew up just north of
State College and has never really wandered far from his roots. His dad
was an engineer and he grew up with a love of science and math. He
combined these academic passions into a career in orthopedic surgery. His
outstanding academic and athletic high school career blossomed into an
extremely rewarding experience as an undergraduate at Penn State
University. At Penn State, he was a Dean's List pre-med student and a two
sport All-American in Football and Wrestling. He captained both the 1971
Football o and Wrestling teams, was a runner up National Champion wrestler
in 1971 and played in the 1970 Orange Bowl and the 1971 Cotton
Bowl.
Dr. Joyner graduated from The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in 1976 and completed his residency in General Surgery in 1978 and Orthopedic Surgery in 1981. His professional career has been highlighted by numerous honors that represent his work ethic, attitude, honesty, loyalty and dedication to his profession. He serves on many state and national committees and has taken a special and dedicated interest in the United States Olympic Sports Medicine Committee. He served as Chairmen of the USOC Sports Medicine Committee from 1993-2000. He served as USOC Staff Member, Sports Medicine Chair; Games Administrative Board for the Olympic games at Nagano, Japan; Liliehammer, Norway; Sydney, Australia; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Albertville, France. He has worked numerous Pan American Games and Olympic Festivals. Dr. Joyner has served on the Board of Trustees for The Pennsylvania State University since 2000 and on the Board of Directors of the Miiton S. Hershey Medical Center since 2003. He is a recipient of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award for graduate achievement.
Dr. Joyner has served on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for ten years. He served on the Pennsylvania Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports from 1981 to 2005. He has served on Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society Medical Advisory Committee and aided this society greatly in working toward their goal of State Licensure. He is a strong ally and a vocal supporter of Athletic Training in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Joyner is particularly proud of his role in the creation of numerous sports medicine clinics that were specifically designed to get athletes back to competition quickly. This innovative approach to sports medicine was truly ahead of its time.
Dr. Joyner is a Principal in the Andrews-Lemak Development Group and he is in practice at the University Orthopedics Center in State College, Pennsylvania. Dr. Joyner is most proud of his family; wife Carolyn, daughter Kate, and two sons, Andy and Matt. Dr. Joyner, the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society wishes to thank you for your dedication to athletics and for recognizing the importance and value of the field of Athletic Training.
Mark Keppler
Mark Keppler has been up and down the East Coast while
earning his Bachelor's and Master's Degree. He began at Wesley College in
Delaware and completed his B.S. in Physical Education at Florida State
University in 1973, where he served as a student athletic trainer under
NATA Hall of Famer, Don Fauls. Mark's first position was located in the
Pittsburgh area at Baldwin High School. At the time, he truly was a
pioneer since he was one of the first athletic trainers working in a high
school in that region of the state. The very next year, Carnegie Mellon
University hired him as Head Athletic Trainer. Over the next eleven years,
Mark increased his staff size and created an expansive student athletic
training program with neighboring institution, University of Pittsburgh.
During his tenure at Carnegie Mellon, he began work on his Master's Degree
in Exercise Physiology which he completed in 1986.
That very same year, he left the Pittsburgh area to accept the Head Football Athletic Trainer's position at Bucknell University. He later replaced Hal Biggs as Head Athletic Trainer in 1988. He has remained at Bucknell University for the past twenty years, and been instrumental in developing the Office of Sports Medicine for the Bison's student-athletes. He has mentored many students in the field of athletic training during his tenure at Carnegie Mellon and Bucknell University. Mark is a founding father of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society. He served as our first Convention Chairperson, our first Western Representative and our Sixth PATS President, from 1982 to 1984. He was a member of the Athletic Training Advisory Committee to the State Board of Physical Therapy, from 1986 to 1996. He presently serves as PATS Convention Chairperson, overseeing all operations for the annual State symposium. Mark is the recipient of the PATS Distinguished Merit Award and the NATA 25 year award. He has served on numerous EATA Committees and presented at the 1986 PATS Symposium.
Mark and is wife Wanda have two daughters, Sarah and Reta, both residing in Tallahassee, Florida. Thank you Mark, for ail your years of dedicated and loyal service to the profession of Athletic Training.
Robert H. Shank
Bob started his athletic training education
under Rod Bimson at Millersville University. He later completed an intense
summer of study at West Chester State University, under the direction of
Phil Doniey. He then began a teaching and athletic training career at
Cumberland Valley High School and Hempfield High School. He completed his
NATA Internship program and was Certified as an Athletic Trainer in 1974.
In 1978, he entered the University of Virginia, where he completed his
Master's Degree. He later returned and earned his Doctoral Degree in
1988.
In 1980, Bob accepted the Head Athletic Trainer position at Dickinson College where he remains today. He has served on numerous Dickinson College committees and has taught several courses in public safety, Wellness, First Aid, CPR and Athletic Training. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Division of the American Trauma Society. He is also an EMT, an EMT instructor, and a State Level Examiner. He is an instructor for the American Red Cross and has taught courses and guest-lectured at Harrisburg Area Community College, Messiah College and the University of Virginia.
Bob has volunteered with the United States Olympic Committee, Cramer Workshops, the Keystone State Games, the Multiple Sclerosis Bike-a-Thon, Pennsylvania Special Olympics, multiple PIAA Championship events, and as an examiner for the NATA Certification Examination.
Bob has served his profession at every level. He has been the NATA liaison to the International Academy of Sports Vision and a State representative to the NATA Governmental Affairs Committee. He is a founding father of PATS, serving as President from 1988-1990. Bob has also served on the PATS Honors and Awards Committee, Finance Committee, Governmental Affairs Committee, State Meeting Program Committee, Legislative Liaison, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association Liaison, and the American Trauma Society/PA Division Liaison. Bob's service to the Athletic Training profession spans from 1976 until the present.
Thanks Bob for your dedication, leadership, concern for human kind and through all this your humor! Bob and his wife Char, reside in Dover, PA.
William Biddington
Bill
was a graduate of the University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia.
He received his BS, MS and EdD from West Virginia University.
Bill’s first position was at the University High School in Morgantown, WV. At the age of 23, Bill accepted the Head Athletic Trainer position at California University of Pennsylvania.
He later developed and accepted the additional duties of Program Director of the Athletic Training Education Program at California. In 1987, Bill was promoted to Associate Professor, and Chairperson of the Department of Sport Medicine.
In 1994, he was promoted to Full Professor. He is currently the Chairperson of the Department of Health Science and Sports Studies at California University of Pennsylvania. During Bill’s tenure, he initiated the Post-Professional Graduate Education Program. Bill started his career at the California University of Pennsylvania and was the lone Certified Athletic Trainer on the staff. Currently there are 18 Certified Athletic Trainers serving at the University in various capacities.
Bill has served the PATS organization in various capacities: He served as Western Representative, editor of the PATS Newsletter, Chaired the Professional Education Committee, and while serving on the Board of Directors, he assisted in the development and organization of the PATS Annual Symposium and Convention. Bill was the recipient of the PATS Most Distinguished Merit Award. He was a member of and chaired the Athletic Training Advisory Committee to the State Board of Physical Therapy. He is extremely involved in the CAATE (formerly CAAHEP) and has served as a frequent site evaluator and currently serves on the CAATE Review Committee.
Bill has volunteered at the United States Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs and was selected to work the Olympic Festivals in 1981, 1982 and the World University Games in 1983 in Edmonton, Canada.
Joe Iezzi
Joe has been
a Certified Athletic Trainer for 32 years. He received his undergraduate
degree from West Chester University and his Master’s degree from
California University of Pennsylvania. Joe was the head athletic trainer
at Cheyney University, Philadelphia University, and Downingtown High
School. He has been employed at Downingtown High School since 1988. He was
also employed at Paoli Orthopedic and Rehabilitation. He is most proud to
have been involved in 5 NCAA Final Fours and 17 PIAA State Championships.
Joe had the opportunity to work for two weeks at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. That experience earned him time with Olympic teams at the Olympic Festival, World University Games, and the Goodwill games in Moscow.
Joe Iezzi has been involved in many leadership roles within our profession. He served on the PATS Board of Directors for eight years; serving as Eastern Representative, President Elect, President, and Past President. During his tenure as President, Joe introduced changes in the Pennsylvania Law and initiated the start of the new law to be directly under the Medical Practice Act. He also served as the legislative chair.
Joe was on the District II Executive Board and the EATA Board of Directors. He later became District II – Director of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and served as Vice President of the NATA. During his six years on the NATA Board of Directors, he was Board Liaison to the secondary school committee, the public relations committee, Professional Hockey Athletic Training Association, the international committee, and the pronouncement committee. He also served on the NATA finance and investment committee and was the NATA News Editorial Advisor. Joe has lectured at numerous State, District, and National meetings for various professions.
Joe has received the Microbiomedics Award – EATA Secondary School Athletic Trainer Award, the PATS Service Award, the NATA “Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer” Award, and the Philadelphia Sports Medicine Congress “Ted Quedenfeld” Award.
Joe’s believes his most rewarding times have been working with the athletic training students from West Chester University and serving as their mentor for the the past 29 years.
Jeffrey S. Cooper
There are many
attributes that describe Jeff Cooper; leader, innovator, teacher, and
professional. "Coop" was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware and
attended the University of Delaware, where he studied under Dr. Roy
Rylander. He earned his Master's Degree at Indiana State University in
Athletic Training. During this time, his interest and love for baseball
was ignited. This passion, and his increased knowledge of biomechanics,
went hand-in-hand with his abilities to analyze and determine the
mechanism of the injuries involved in baseball.
Coop pursued his interest in baseball, by spending many years in the minor league systems. In 1976, he was hired as the Assistant Athletic Trainer with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in 1984 and stayed in that position until 2006. Dallas Green, former Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies wrote of Coop, "His knowledge of his craft is second to none in my opinion because he has that burning desire to improve by spending time in the athletic training room listening, reading, studying, delving into the X's and O's of the body. This always with an insight and pride to get better and be on the cutting edge of new and improving way of getting players back on the field as well as preventative approaches to these problems."
Coop's acute knowledge of biomechanics along with his ability to analyze motion, allows him a unique ability to correct deficiencies in rehabilitation programs that he has developed. Phil Donley states, "His input in this area (analysis and rehabilitation) has broadened the knowledge base in professional baseball and there is a trickle down effect for that information into the general population.
As a leader in the field of Athletic Training, Coop pioneered the formation of PBATS, Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers' Society. He was instrumental in convincing the baseball owners that PBATS was an education based organization, not a union. PBATS has continued with that mission to this day. Coop brought to the foreground the perils of smokeless tobacco and the prevalence of it use in professional baseball. He conducted national programs involving politicians, prominent athletes, and scientific data to educate our youth regarding smokeless tobacco. Through Coop's perseverance, these programs have convinced the NCAA, MLB, as well as youth sport programs around the country, to prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco in and around these activities.
Medical professionals, major league baseball owners, and players all praise the work and values of this fine professional.
Michael R. Sitler
Mike Sitler has
always been an intuitive individual. Mike's family developed a process on
their dairy farms by using methane gas produced by the manure on their
farms. It seems natural that Mike, one of seven boys, would be
directing research projects later in his career. Mike attended East
Stroudsburg University. He graduated in 1976, with a degree in Health and
Physical Education, with a concentration in Athletic Training. Mike
continued his education as a graduate Assistant at East Stroudsburg
University, where he completed his MS Degree in Physical Education, with a
Somatic Science concentration.
Mike was employed at Kean College of New Jersey (1977-1982), where he developed an approved Athletic Training Education Program, in addition to providing clinical care for the intercollegiate athletes. Mike later moved to United States Military Academy at West Point, where he provided clinical care for the cadets' intramural programs and was an instructor in Physical Education. He began his pursuit of a Doctorial Degree at New York University.
Mike continued his athletic training career at Temple University as Chair of the Department of Kinesiology. He earned his doctorial degree in 1989, and has enjoyed a very successful career at Temple University. Mike has been the major advisor for 47 doctoral and master thesis studies and served over 130 additional committees' studies. Mike has successfully published over 50 articles and 75 abstracts in his department. Mike has developed an outstanding educational program at Temple University, both at the Graduate and Undergraduate levels. In regard to his teaching, Mike feels it is important to support a positive student learning environment.
He believes it is necessary to provide transparent and shared decision making when appropriate, evidence-based content, frequent and constructive feedback, and course materials that are clear, complete, and of value. This philosophy earned him a Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1997.
Mike has completed numerous studies involving the efficiency of bracing. He has served as a chair for NATA, EATA and PATS research committees, regarding research and grants at all levels. He is widely published and serves on many editorial boards throughout our profession. Mike feels that the NATA Research and Education Foundation, that he has served on since 1997, and is currently the President, is his most important contribution to the profession. The studies he has initiated and supported over the years have lead to many advances in our profession.
Paula Sammarone Turocy
Paula began her
education in athletic training at West Chester State College. She attended
West Chester from 1978-82, under the direction of Phil Donley, Brad Taylor
and Joe Godek. Paula earned her Master's Degree in Education/Sports
Medicine from Michigan State University in 1984. She then accepted a
position at Eastern Kentucky University, teaching in an NATA Approved
Undergraduate Education Program from 1984-86. From 1986-89, she served as
Acting Athletic Training Education Program Director, at the University of
Pittsburgh. During the next few years, Paula explored the private sector
of athletic training, working with coaching effectiveness and developing
healthy habits for athletes. Paula entered the University of Virginia in
1990 and completed her Doctorate of Education in 1992. In 1992, Paula
accepted a position at Duquesne University as the first and only Chair of
the Department of Athletic Training. She has continued to chair the
department and has earned the rank of Associate Professor. In 2004, Paula
was named the Anna Rangos Rizakus Endowed Chair of the Health Sciences and
Ethics. She also holds the position of Program Director of the CAATE
Accredited Athletic Training Education Program.
Paula has diligently served the institutions where she has been employed, and the students she has taught and mentored in so many ways. She has utilized her skills as an educator, a clinician, an administrator, a leader, and as a counselor. Paula has worked at the NATA level serving on the editorial boards of the Journal of Athletic Training, the District II Executive Committee, and the NATA Representative to the JRC-AT, the Education Council, and the NATA Position Statement Working Group. In addition, she was the Inaugural Chair and first CEO of CAATE, and Vice Chair/Chair of JRC-AT. Paula has also served the Board of Certification as a Test Developer, Test Site Administrator, examiner/model, materials manager, and on two Role Delineations Study Committees.
More regionally and locally, Paula was honored as the First Moyer Award Chair. She served as a NATA Research and Education Foundation representative to the District II BOD. She has been a member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainer's Society since 1980, where she has served the membership as President, President-elect and past President; as well as Parliamentarian, a member of the Long Range Planning and Governmental Affairs Committee, and a liaison to the Pennsylvania PTA and Safe Kids Programs.
Paula's proudest accomplishment is that of being a mentor and teacher for the many of her students that have gone on to be successful professionals in Athletic Training, and various other medical professions.
John M. Hauth
John Hauth has a
legacy of strong values and a great work ethic that was passed to him from
his parents and inspired by his mentors during his professional
development. John was motivated in the classroom by the likes of Lois
Wagner and John Thatcher while completing his undergraduate work in
Athletic Training at East Strousdburg University (1983). John shows his
love for the profession through his work ethic and his concern and care
for his students' physical and mental well being. There will always
be a caring mentor at ESU as long as John Hauth is still there. After ESU,
John went on to complete his Master's Degree at the University of
Arizona where he studied under the tutelage of Gary Delforge and
worked in one of the first high school outreach programs. As John's career
developed and after returning to ESU (1985), he pursued advanced
study and completed his doctoral Degree from the University of Sarasota.
His dissertation topic was "The Incidence of Sexual Harassment Among
Students Enrolled in CAAHEP-Accredited Athletic Training Programs," again,
showing his concern for students.
Upon arriving at ESU, he was asked to serve on the Public Relations committee of PATS. Not long after, he initiated the publication of the PATS Newsletter. The objective of this publication was to keep the general public and the professionals up-to-date on the advocacy efforts of the field of Athletic Training in Pennsylvania. In 1987, he was asked to chair the Membership Committee and was responsible for technology upgrades that allowed the organization to better utilize the database it already had. At the same time, John served as Parliamentarian for the PATS Board of Directors, and was responsible for raising awareness of PATS current issues. In 1991, he was appointed to the Long Range Planning Committee, and in 1992, he was elected President Elect. During his time as President Elect, President and PAST President, John worked to establish the Governor's first Athletic Training Week, developed the PATS Scholarships, and made upgrades in all PATS publications. He pursued legislative efforts for a separate bill for the licensure of Athletic Trainers. John received help and guidance from his peers including, Joe Iezzi, Barry McGlumphy, Paula Turocy, Steve Heckler, Sandy Bush, and many more. John served Pennsylvania as our Representative for the EATA and the NATA. He has also been very active as an organizer of the NATA Educators' Conference.
John has been published in many peer-reviewed journals and has presented at numerous PATS, EATA and NATA Conventions and Symposia. He has advised numerous graduate research projects and Master's Theses. John has received grants from national organizations and ESU over his twenty-three year tenure. He willingly volunteers to speak and advocate his support for national and local health organizations. He has conducted workshops for high school and age-group coaches in support of safe athletics. John has been awarded the PATS Service Award, PATS Board of Service Award, PATS Special Recognition Award (Bills 371 & 371), NATA 25 Year Award, and membership in the Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training honorary Fraternity. John is married to Lynn (1985) and has three children, Amanda, Kendall, and Conner. Today, John, we honor you for your dedication, professionalism, and especially, caring for family, athletes, advisees, students, and peers.
Steven J. Heckler
Steve is a
native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was influenced at an early age by
two local ATCs who are both Hall of Famers: Bruce Vogelsong at Dickinson
College and Dick Burkholder at Carlisle High School. In 1968, Steve
entered West Chester State College where he learned from Hall of Famer
Phil Donley. Immediately, following his graduation in 1972, Steve was
hired as the youngest faculty member at Hamilton, a private, Liberal
Arts College in upstate New York, where he served as both the head
athletic trainer and head baseball coach for three years.
In 1975, Steve was hired as the head ATC, and later, Director of Sports Medicine at Shippensburg University where he worked for the next twenty-seven years. Throughout that time, Steve mentored numerous undergraduates in his internship program sending them to West Chester's summer athletic training program. He also counseled and mentored over fifty graduate students during his tenure. Many of Steve's undergraduate and graduate students have taken leadership roles throughout our state and nation.
Steve was the very first full-time certified athletic trainer hired at Shippensburg University. Shippensburg experienced constant, dramatic growth in its sports medicine facilities over his career there. The first act Steve undertook in 1975 was to make his facility accessible to female student-athletes. Steve served as medical coordinator for numerous athletic events, such as, twenty years for various PIAA championships, ten years for the PA Senior Games, two years for the Big 33 Football Classic, and was featured along with Dr. Mike Cordas on the popular TV series, Emergency 911, seen by twenty-million viewers.
Steve served in many capacities within PATS. He was a member of the Honors & Awards and Public Relations committees, co-founded our popular Golf Tournament, which created our first student scholarship award, and was later elected president. As President, Steve was instrumental in our society's reorganization through increased regional representation, the student symposium, our convention, and the creation of the Pennsylvania Athletic Training Hall of Fame. His most important contribution was to our decade long battle for a new, modern practice act. Along with many others, Steve's tireless efforts, contributions and leadership in Harrisburg and elsewhere helped lead to passage of the 2001 law we work under today. Even after seven years of retirement, Steve still serves PATS on our Long Range Planning committee, and continues to mentor former students and colleagues.
Steve is honored for his promotion of diversity and his involvement, loyalty and dedication to the profession of athletic training.
Steve and his wife, Vonnie, reside in Florida, not far from the Gulf of Mexico. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Bethany and Jennifer.
Steve Nemes
Steve Nemes was
born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and he later returned to the
Lehigh Valley to pursue his professional goals. He is a 1973 graduate of
Parkland High School, where he developed a strong interest in the medical
fields. Steve initially thought dentistry was in his future. He attended
Lehigh County Community College, where he met Dr. Ed Daveheiser, a
professor and friend, that suggested Steve consider athletic training. Dr.
Daveheiser arranged for Steve to meet with Fran Sheridan at LaFayette
University. Fran directed Steve to Phil Donley at West Chester University,
where he enrolled. At West Chester, although a biology education major,
Steve was mentored by Phil Donley, Joe Godek, and Brad Taylor. He
completed his junior year internship at Cheyney University under Joe Iezzi
and his senior year under Ron Pearson at Owen Roberts High School while
student teaching. Steve was obviously a hard-working student who was
mentored by some of the best in the athletic training
profession.
In 1978, Steve successfully completed the intemship route by passing the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Certification Exam, and he accepted a job at his old high school teaching biology and serving as the athletic trainer. He served the athletes at Parkland High School from 1978-1982 before moving to the position of Head Athletic Trainer at Muhlenberg College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a position he still holds today. He has overseen many changes over the years, including the latest renovation of their sports medicine facility and increases in both the number of sports and number of student-athletes. Steve has also grown his athletic training staff from one to four certified athletic trainers over the years. He has developed and maintains a dynamic and up-to-date website for his athletes, parents, staff, and visitors to use.
Steve was honored by PATS with a Board of Directors' Service Award in 1996 for his many years as a member, and later, was Co-Chair of the College/ University Athletic Trainers' Committee (1994-2003), Chair of the Ethics Committee (1994-1998), and Chair of the Nominations and Election Committee (19984-1986). Steve also received the PATS Board of Directors' Honor Award in 1988. He served as the Eastern Representative on the PATS Board of Directors from 1986-1988.
Steve has served the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association since 2005 as a member of their Workshop Committee and has served as· the Chair since 2008. He has been recognized by the NATA with their 25 Year Award. Steve has promoted the profession of athletic training with presentations to many local organizations on safety in athletics and development of young athletes and coaches. He serves as an Approved Clinical Instructor for East Stroudsburg University, and volunteers for the Olympic Movement, PA Special O;ympics, the Keystone Games, and the Allentown Sports Festival.
Steve is revered, honored, and respected at Muhlenberg by his peers, student-athletes, and their parents for his gracious attitude, hard work, and love for his profession. He is "grateful for the opportunity to work with student-athletes, and watch them grow, mature, and sometimes 'heal' during their time here."
Steve is very active in his church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Girls Basketball Booster Club. He is married to Linda (1993), and they have a daughter, Jennifer (1995).
George Roberts
George M. Roberts is a Titusville, Pennsylvania native, who received his Bachelor's degree from Edinboro University through an Athletic Training Intemship Program and attending the West Chester University's summer program. He became a Certified Athletic Trainer in 1976. George completed his first Master's Degree from Slippery Rock University in Health Science in 1980. He received a second Master's Degree from Edinboro University in School Administration in 1990.
George's legacy may be that he was a "serviceman." Although, during his time as a young man, he was never called to serve his country. He has always accepted the mission of his chosen profession, "to serve." Whether it be a patient in a clinic, a high school athlete, an Olympian, or a college athlete, he felt obligated to serve. He always performed to the highest standards, and his athletes appreciated his work ethic and his character.
George has always been available to serve his profession by serving on various committees and in leadership positions in the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society. He has served as PATS Northwestern Representative, 2006-2010, and as Chair of the. Governmental Affairs committee from 2006-2010.
George was very active in the NATA, District II, and Pennsylvania. He served as an NATA Test Administrator from 1979-1999 and as Chair of the District II Governmental Affairs Committee from 1999-2008. He also chaired the Athletic Training Advisory committee to the PeOllsylvaniaB~ Physical Therapy from 1996-2002. He was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate in 2010 as the Chair to the Allied Health Professionals Committee on the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. George, as an educator, has also served the NATA on the Educational Degree Task Force from 2007-2009 and as an advisor to the Ranges School of Health Sciences at Duquesne University-Athletic Training Education Committee, 1985-1999. George received the PATS Service award in 2003.
George has been a driving force behind the scenes for our legislative efforts with the NATA in Washington D.C. and PATS in Harrisburg. He was instrumental in assisting PATS with finding our current lobbyists, The Winter Group. The hiring of our current lobbyists has increased PATS presence with legislators in Harrisburg, and it has allowed PATS to be significantly involved with sports health legislation.
George was very active serving the United States Olympic teams, He was selected as an athletic trainer for four Olympic Sports Festivals; 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1987. He worked the world University Games in 1983, and he served as a Staff Athletic Trainer at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, CA and at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain.
George has served Edinboro University as an Associate Professor and Head Athletic Trainer from 1985-2004. Currently, George teaches numerous skills courses at the University, in addition to Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology.
George and Penny have been married for 34 years, and they have a daughter, Kristin, son, Brian, son-in-law, Brian, and two granddaughters, Sydney, 5, and Madison, 3. It is with great honor, pride, and respect that we welcome George M. Roberts to the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Hall of Fame Class of 2011.
