Paul Slocum's roots are in Sutton, Massachusetts, a small rural town, where his interest in Athletic Training was nurtured by a caring basketball coach and a neighboring college athletic trainer at Holy Cross University, Bill Samko (NATA, Hall of Famer 1986). By this time Paul was a graduate of the Cramer Company's Student Athletic Training correspondence course.

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Slocum completed his undergraduate degree with a major in Biology and a minor in Physical Education, at Dakota Wesleyan University (1971). During his undergraduate preparation he continued to work as an athletic training student under his Team Physician, Dr. Jack Berry. A Physical Therapist, Neil Meyers often came to the university and treated the athletes. Meyers picked up on Slocum's interest in "helping athletes get better" and suggested that he con¬tinue his studies by enrolling in physical therapy (PT) school. Slocum completed a Graduate Physical Therapy Certificate Program at the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. During that time his interest in athletic training was increased when he was befriended by Don Frey, Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Pennsylvania.

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A characteristic of Slocum's professional life is that he is a "Maximizer". He often did somewhat related jobs at the same time. In high school, he was a team manager/student athletic trainer; in college, a student athletic trainer/official; then an athletic trainer/physical therapist. He was the Head Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist at Bloomsburg University from 1972-1983. He soon realized that he was involved in a professional setting with very little professional organization or unity at the state level.

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Slocum became a Certified Athletic Trainer in 1975. He attended the NATA and EATA meetings and through talks with prominent Athletic Trainers such as Dave Tomasi, Fran Sheridan, Mark Keppler, Hal Biggs, Ted Quedenfeld, Otho Davis and others he became a very proactive NATA member. He was part of a group that met in July 1976 at the NATA Annual meeting that voted to form the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society. In the late 70's and early 80's Paul served as PATS Chair of the Licensure Committee, PATS Eastern Regional Representative and eventually PATS President. Paul states, "It was an exciting, exasperating and worthwhile endeavor. He is indebted to Dave Tomasi and Hal Biggs, two close friends, who provided insight and wise counsel. Also, to Joe Godek, who was tenacious in the fight for licensure, gaining the respect from challengers to licensure for athletic trainers and building the bridge between athletic trainers and physical therapists."

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Slocum was the recipient of the EATA Cramer Products Award for Service to Athletic Training in 1981, the PATS Distinguished Merit Award in 1990, and PATS Moose Detty Award in 1996. He has worked with the Keystone Games and the Pennsylvania Senior Games in various roles during the years 1987 -2006.

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Later in his career in various Physical Therapy settings he has championed athletic training to support the development of Outreach Programs for local and surrounding high school schools. Paul and his wife Millie have been married for 34 years and they have one son, Greg, 29, who resides in San Francisco, California.

The Honorable Senator Robert (Tommy) Tomlinson Today is a culmination of a celebration that began six months ago when Governor Corbett signed our professional Licensure bill into law in December 2011. Senator Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson was our principle legislative supporter for the previous 2001 Bill (signed by then-Governor Mark Schweiker) that transferred athletic trainer regulation from the Physical Therapy Board to the State Medical Boards where we reside today. A decade later, Senator Tomlinson's expertise and unwavering support was instrumental for the passage of our 2011 Licensure Bill.

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Senator Tomlinson is an effective public servant. He has been working with the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society since he served in the House from 1991-94 in our quest for recognition and status as a licensed health care profession. Later as Senator from District 6, from 1995 to the present, with his expertise and unwavering support, we have accomplished that goal.

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Senator Tomlinson started his political career as a community leader, serving as president of the Bensalem School Board, on the St. Mary Medical Advisory Board. He is a member of the West Chester University Council of Trustees. In the Senate, he serves as Vice Chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee; Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee; Community Economic and Recreation Development Committee; Education Committee; Transportation Committee; and Veterans Affairs, Emergency Preparedness Committee.

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A native of Bensalem, Senator Tomlinson was an outstanding athlete and took his academic and athletic talent to West Chester State College graduating with a Bachelors Degree in 1970. As a Golden Ram student athlete, he was a member of the State Conference Championship football teams in 1967 and 1969. The 1967 Team went on to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Florida and he captained the 1969 team. While playing football at West Chester, Tommy was injured and subsequently cared for by another Hall of Famer named Phil Donley. This early experience would cement Tommy's opinion and impressions of Athletic Trainers in the future. Mr. Donley's knowledge and willingness to go the extra step to provide quality health care is something Tomlinson remembers to the present day. After his playing days ended, Tommy went to Miami Dade University in 1971 and received his Mortuary Science degree and is owner of the family business in Bensalem; The Tomlinson Funeral Home.

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During our quest for legislative recognition as a health care profession, Senator Tomlinson's use of his political experience, expertise and a genuine appreciation of the services provided by athletic trainers were vital to our political success. The end result was professional Licensure.

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