1915 - 1990
One of the more colorful personalities in Nebraska athletic history, “Schnitz,” as he was known to thousands of Cornhuskers, served on the Nebraska staff for 33 years before retiring in 1981. He received the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Merit Award in 1978. In 1956, Schneider was made a lifetime member of the Nebraska Coaches Association for his service to high school athletics.
NATA President #5
Jerry Rhea entered the profession in 1958 as a student at Texas A&M. He was NATA president from 1986-87 and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for growth. Rhea was head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Falcons from 1968-94, when he became assistant to the president of the Falcons. Now retired, Rhea mentors young professionals and new leaders.
A true Texan, Wilford “Billy” Pickard Jr. was an athletic trainer at his alma mater, Texas A & M University, 50+ years before retiring in 2009. In the same year, the school honored him by naming October 10 “Billy Pickard Day.” Before starting at Texas A&M, Pickard was athletic trainer for several Texas high schools. He is retired but still active in the Aggie community.
1924 - 1992
Known as a tireless worker who demanded perfection, Larry Lohr began his athletic training career in 1958. He worked for numerous high schools in Texas and was inducted into the Southwest Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 1985. For many years, Lohr held three-day sports injury clinics in Mexico, helping the profession grow internationally.
1921 - 1998
It was during his undergraduate days at the University of Texas that Joe Worden became interested in the care and prevention of athletic injuries. He had a good teacher: fellow Hall of Famer Frank Medina. In 1949, Worden was hired by Vanderbilt University, where he remained until retiring in 1986. Worden, who handled all sports until 1971, served as head athletic trainer for the Commodore basketball team and assisted with the football team and club sports.
1921 - 2008
By the time he retired in June 1984, Ray Ulinski had spent 34 busy years as a teacher and athletic trainer at Penn State University. After his education was interrupted by World War II, Ulinski earned his bachelor's degree from Penn State in 1950 and was immediately hired as assistant athletic trainer and an instructor in physical education. He supervised 14 intercollegiate varsity sports for both men and women.
1921 - 2006
Joe Stanitis was born and raised in Amherst, Mass., making it only fitting that he serve out his athletic training career at Amherst College. Stanitis joined the Amherst staff in 1947 and stayed until retiring in 1984. In the early 1960s, he collaborated on an article about lateral neck sprains that spurred the development of protective cervical collars in football. He was also a member of the committee that helped attain licensure for Massachusetts athletic trainers in 1983.
1927 - 2007
The career of Fritz Massmann, head athletic trainer for the New Jersey Nets basketball team from 1970-92, can best be described as varied. Before joining the Nets, Massmann worked for almost 20 years at Iowa College, Brown University and then Boston College. He was an athletic trainer for numerous pro basketball All-Star games. Massmann was also active in the NATA, serving as District One director for six years and as president for two years.
1920 - 2006
After 37 years, the name Walt Grockowski has become nearly synonymous with Wesleyan University and its athletic training staff. A resident of Middletown since 1926, Grockowski joined the Wesleyan staff in 1947 and worked for nearly 26 years under head athletic trainer Steve Witkowski before assuming leadership upon Witkowski's death. He was one of four athletic trainers to serve the U.S. Olympic Team during the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
1924 - 2013
When Louis Grevelle retired in 1984, Lubbock's (TX) Coronado High School lost an institution. Since the school opened its doors in 1965, Grevelle had been there as athletic trainer. He was a past-president of the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association, served two terms on the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers and covered three Texas High School All-Star football games.