NATA Hall of Fame

NATA President #6

Mark Smaha was the head athletic trainer at Washington State University from 1978 until retiring in 1999. As NATA president, he guided the association through economic challenges and changes in staff leadership. As an athletic trainer, he guided Marshall University through the worst fatality in college sports history. Smaha received three President's Commendations for Life Saving Emergencies and was nominated for the NCAA Award of Valor in 1982. He currently works as a consultant and speaker.

1947-1997

Dan Libera was an athletic trainer and educator at the University of Northern Colorado for 26 years. He was a founding member of the Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association. He held several offices in the NATA, including District Seven Research and Injury Committee, Membership Committee, Board of Directors and Board of Certification. In 1995, an award bearing his name was established by the Board of Certification.

Paul Grace's legacy to the profession lies in the credibility of the credential. Grace chaired the Board of Certification and later served as BOC executive director. He was president of the EATA and the National Organization for Competency Assurance, and he worked as the coordinator of sports medicine at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a clinical instructor in athletic training at Northeastern University. He is now an executive with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

1925-2003

Bill Buhler was head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers for over 44 years. He conceived and initiated a method of icing pitchers' shoulders and elbows to minimize the effects of micro trauma, began the practice of having outfielders throw between innings to keep loose and patented safety equipment to protect catchers from head to toe.

NATA President #4

Bobby Barton spent 27 years as the head athletic trainer and program director at Eastern Kentucky University, turning his gift for leadership into a motivating force. After serving as NATA president, he helped get the NATA Research & Education Foundation underway and co-authored the athletic training certification law for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He continues to mentor students and professionals as a professor emeritus at Eastern Kentucky.

1951-1991

Gail Weldon was the second woman to join NATA and one of the first 10 women ever certified. Her other “firsts” include being the first female athletic trainer hired by the U.S. Olympic Committee, first female head athletic trainer for the 1979 Pan American Games and first female chief athletic trainer for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. She was director of athletic training and physical therapy for the 1984 Olympic Games and was the first woman inducted to the NATA Hall of Fame.

1936 - 2012

Denis Isrow was dubbed the “Father of Athletic Training in North Dakota” in the late 1980s. He was the first full-time athletic trainer in state and North Dakota State University history and remained a full-time faculty member there for 39 years. Isrow, who continues to teach part-time at North Dakota State, has built a reputation as a teacher, listener, friend and healer.

Mike Nesbitt was head athletic trainer and associate professor at Northern Arizona University when he retired in 2006. During his tenure at NAU, he promoted and justified athletic trainers in numerous Arizona high schools. He was a leader at the state, district and national levels, representing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers' Association on the NATA Board of Directors from 1986-92. He now serves as president of Jonesco Trucking.

Ken Murray, whose parents were missionaries, was raised in Africa with a focus on service. He has worked for the Atlanta Falcons, East Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky and University of Southwestern Louisiana. Murray has worked in many capacities in district, state and national athletic training programs. He now is the senior associate athletic director for sports medicine at Texas Tech University.

Dale Mildenberger is a senior associate athletic director at Utah State University, where he has worked since 1975. He spent 1969-70 as head athletic trainer with the Harlem Globetrotters. He then served a stint in the Army as assistant athletic trainer at West Point, on Ed Pillings' staff. Mildenberger has been active on a local, state, regional and national level with the NATA.