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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.
Beginning while he worked for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Eugene “Doc” Harvey continuously enhanced his skills as a dedicated rehabilitation specialist. Before moving to Brooklyn and later Los Angeles with the Dodgers, was an athletic trainer in Colorado and Montreal, Canada. Known as a hard worker who kept his players in excellent condition, Harvey supervised the athletic training and rehabilitative facility at Grambling State University until retiring in 1998. Harvey passed away May 22, 2012.
1906 - 1982
An assistant athletic trainer for more than 30 years at North Carolina State University, Chester Grant was considered a model example of professionalism, compassion and expertise. In 1974, North Carolina State presented Grant with a Distinguished Service Award and has since named its athletic training facility in Reynolds Coliseum in his memory.
NATA President #3
A strong proponent of service, Bill Chambers helped build NATA. He served two terms as president, two terms on the board, chaired four national meetings and managed exhibits for many district meetings. Chambers built the Foundation scholarship program into a multimillion-dollar endeavor. He began as a student under Ken Rawlinson at the University of Oklahoma. In June 1962, he became head athletic trainer at Fullerton Junior College, where he remained until retiring in 1998. He now works with rodeo and motor sports.
1929 - 2012
Founding member George Anderson was the head athletic trainer for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1960-94; he was part of the original Raiders staff. Before joining the Raiders, Anderson served in athletic training positions at USC, Odessa (Texas) High School and the University of California. Known for his “tell-it-like-it-is” style, he achieved nationwide recognition in 1978 for the revolutionary design of a protective knee brace.
1921 - 2005
After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from Georgia Tech, Henry “Buck” Andel was the head athletic trainer from 1948-69, taking the football team to 14 major bowl games. He also worked as an athletic trainer for the 1960 Olympic Games and was a founding member of NATA, serving on the original board of directors in 1950.
Eddie Abramoski was head athletic trainer for the Buffalo Bills from the team's inception in 1960 until he retired in 1997. A native of Erie, Penn., he turned to sports medicine after a promising football career was cut short by a back injury at Purdue University. Abramoski was an assistant at West Point before going to the University of Detroit and the Detroit Lions. He is retired and lives in New York.