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CLASS OF 2005

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Sayers J. "Bud" Miller

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NATA Hall of Fame Member

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.

Yost

Cecilia L. Yost

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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