1923 - 1998
For four decades, Leonard “Mack” McNeal was an integral part of the University of Richmond. He began as head athletic trainer in 1947 and eventually became chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education. He was active, serving on the NATA board and later leading efforts to organize NATA's archives.
Lindsy McLean began his career as a student in 1956 at Vanderbilt. By 1963 he was head athletic trainer and director of physical therapy at the University of California. He was head athletic trainer for the San Francisco 49'ers from 1979-2003. McLean's legacy is the certification exam and requirements, which he helped establish. He is retired and living in Tennessee.
Gary Delforge is a premier educator, founding the graduate program at what would become the Arizona School of Health Sciences after developing one of the first NATA-approved graduate curricula at the University of Arizona, where he spent the bulk of his career. Delforge was a member of the NATA Professional Education Committee for over 17 years; he also served on the board, keeping education at the center of his focus. He is now retired and living in Arizona.
1912 - 1992
Frank Wiechec was the chief physical therapist at Hazelton (Penn.)-St. Joseph Hospital and had a varied career in athletic training. He was athletic trainer at Temple University (1939-48), for the Philadelphia National League Baseball Club (1948-62), for the Philadelphia Eagles Professional Football Club (1950-58) and at the University of Pittsburgh (1962-66). Wiechec invented Ank-L-Aid, a patented ankle support, and was president of the EATA.
1905-1979
Sandy Sandlin was head athletic trainer at the University of Chattanooga from 1938-75, during which time he also spent a year as athletic trainer at Georgia Tech (1944-45). An All-Star athletic trainer for the Southern Baseball League, Sandlin was known for his gentle manner and skill as a healer. The Tennessee Athletic Trainers' Society honors him by bestowing an annual Sandy Sandlin High School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.
1931 - 2013
Earnest “Doc” Harrington wore many hats at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was head athletic trainer from 1958-94. He was a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and a popular speaker at many seminars. Harrington was also the first director and project coordinator for the athletic training specialization program at the University of Southern Mississippi.
unknown
Only the second head athletic trainer in the history of the University of Missouri, Fred Wappel worked at the school for 41 years before retiring in 1996. He had the longest tenure of any Missouri athletic staff member and was the dean of Big Eight athletic trainers. He was a charter member of the Missouri Sports Medicine Hall of Fame in 1984. Wappel is retired and living in Columbia, Mo.
1919 - 2014
One of the founders of the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts Association (ATOM), Bill Samko began his athletic training career as a student athletic trainer at Holy Cross College under Bart Sullivan. In 1946, after a brief time in military service, he returned to Holy Cross to serve as an athletic trainer until 1966. At that time, he entered his current position as head athletic trainer at Worcester Academy. The same year, the New England Basketball Association named him Trainer of the Year. In 1983, Bill headed the committee for the Licensure of Massachusetts athletic trainers.
1920 - 2008
A native of Brooklyn, Roy Rylander proudly served college athletes. He joined the University of Delaware in 1946 and was named head tennis coach in 1953. He retired as head athletic trainer in 1988 but continued as tennis coach until 1993. Rylander earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during World War II and served as a unit training officer during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Kappa Phi Kappa, the national professional education fraternity.
Carl Nelson worked at Colby College from 1959-93, serving students as an athletic trainer, associate professor and director of health services throughout his career. Nelson cared for Olympians in 1972, 1976 and 1980 winter games. He is retired and lives in Maine.