NATA Hall of Fame

Getting his start in the profession at New Mexico State University, Frank Randall was active as a national leader. He worked at New Mexico Military Junior College, the University of Idaho and Iowa State University. Randall served on the NATA board was the District Five secretary and historian. He retired in 2007.

NATA President #2

Frank George became the head athletic trainer at Brown University in 1966 and remained at the school until he retired in 2004 as director of sports medicine. He was NATA president from 1974-78, after serving as vice president. George was instrumental in winning a five-year struggle to bring licensure to athletic trainers in Rhode Island. He continues to live in Rhode Island.

Phillip Donley was a teacher and athletic trainer at West Chester University from 1965-91. He was a founding member of the American College of Sports Medicine and authored the first NATA guidelines for development and approval of NATA-approved Education Program Directors Council. Donley, a colonel in the Army Reserves, now works at Chester County Sports Medicine.

1927-2005

Duke LaRue worked as an athletic trainer at Michigan State University, Purdue University, Western Illinois University and the University of Nebraska. He also served as a member of the NATA Board of Directors from 1970-74 and as a member/chair of the Nebraska Board of Health Examiners in Athletic Training.

Joe Gieck was an educator and athletic trainer at the University of Virginia for 43 years before retiring in 2005. He served on the Advisory Board of Physical Therapy for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sport. A scholarship is endowed in his name, as is a teaching position. He is a professor emeritus at UVa.

Cash Birdwell worked at West Point, the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Rams before settling in as head athletic trainer at Southern Methodist University. He was on the NATA board of Directors and served as vice president. Birdwell chaired the Annual Meeting in 1989 and served on the Ethics Committee. In 2005 he retired from SMU; he continues to work part-time on a contract basis.

Robert Behnke has held numerous teaching and athletic training positions throughout Indiana and Illinois. His extensive list of honors includes the NATA Educator of the Year in 1987 and the NATA Service Award in 1989. Behnke's career in athletic training has taken him from an assistant student athletic trainer position at the University of Illinois to head athletic trainer and professor at Indiana State University. He is retired.

Paul Zeek, longtime athletic trainer at Lamar University, has pursued a life-long commitment to the profession at the community, state and national level. Zeek began his career as a high school athletic trainer in El Paso and ended as a senior administrator for a college athletics department. His commitment to excellence and devotion to athletes set him apart. Zeek is retired, after 35 years at Lamar.

James “Al” Wilson dedicated his life to advancing the profession, focusing his efforts in Texas. After graduating from Howard Payne University, Wilson became the first high school athletic trainer in the state of Texas at Killeen, where he continues to care for athletes. He was appointed to Texas' Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers in 1976 and served as chair from 1977-87.

Chris Patrick established his career in the college setting, becoming a visible member of the University of Florida community. The Florida Boys Club in Gainesville elected him Volunteer of the Year in 1977, and he was honored with nearly every NATA award. Patrick has consulted for Bike, Johnson & Johnson and Nike, helping to broaden and enhance the image of the profession. He is the assistant athletics director for sports medicine at UF.