NATA President #8
Kent Falb was the head athletic trainer for the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1967-99, after gaining experience at West Point, University of Iowa, Minnesota Vikings and Boston College. Active since joining NATA, he became president and focused on establishing a global presence for athletic training and guiding the changes in athletic training education. Falb now works as an executive for the Professional Football Athletic Trainers' Society.
Ronnie Barnes was the first president of the NATA Research & Education Foundation and was president of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers' Society. He has devoted his career to promoting the athletic trainer and improving the profession. Barnes joined the NFL's New York Giants in 1980 and now works as vice president of medical services.
NATA President #11
Marjorie Albohm was one of the first women certified by NATA and the first women's athletic trainer at Indiana University. She was an original member of the NATA Foundation board and was Foundation president before becoming NATA president. Albohm helped increase job opportunities for athletic trainers in clinics and physician extender roles. She is manager of Customer Education and Fellowship Programs for Ossur Americas.
Jim Whitesel worked as an athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks from 1976-98. He served on the NATA board and assisted in designing injury prevention devices, including a therapeutic knee brace. His staff was named NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 1988. Whitesel has since opened a private practice, Whitesel ProTherapy.
John Schrader rose through the ranks into administration at Indiana University. He served on the NATA board and was co-chair of the Education Task Force that was instrumental in education reform. He continues to mentor athletic training educators and is IU's graduate athletic training program director, coordinator of the athletic training education program, and associate chair of the kinesiology department.
Jim Booher retired in 2009 after 42 years at South Dakota State University as head athletic trainer, professor and program director. Booher served on the NATA Board of Directors from 1990-93 and chaired the NATA Governance Task Force from 1992-95. He was a charter member and first president of the South Dakota Athletic Trainers' Association.
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.