Pennsylvania Athletic Training Hall of Fame

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

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

Moyer 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 50^th 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

Silver 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, 1^st 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

Kalenak 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.

Rea 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

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 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 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

Jeffrey 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

Michael 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 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.