NATA Hall of Fame

1922 - 1984

Gene Paszkiet is remembered as a dedicated and concerned athletic trainer who spent 31 years at the University of Notre Dame. A native of Indiana, Paszkiet entered Notre Dame as a student in 1946. After playing freshmen football, he joined the Irish athletic training staff as a student assistant. In 1952, he was named athletic trainer of all teams at Notre Dame. Paszkiet helped five Heisman trophy winners stay healthy. He also was a recipient of numerous awards during his years at Notre Dame.

1929 - 1989

Kerkor Kassabian graduated in 1952 from Northeastern University in Boston, where he developed an undergraduate curriculum program in athletic training. In 1979, Kassabian helped found the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts and was elected as the group's first president. He led negotiations for state licensure. Kassabian co-directed the Boston Marathon Sports Medicine Seminars in 1977-82 and was a head athletic trainer for the marathon from 1978-82.

In 1953, Charles Demers graduated from the University of Massachusetts and went to work for several minor-league baseball clubs. In 196r, he became head athletic trainer at Deerfield Academy, where he has remained until retiring. He was coordinator of athletic therapy for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid and for several other international competitions. He now lives in Massachusetts.

1924 - 2006

Hal Biggs made it a point to stay active and involved during his career. Following a three-year stint in the Army, where he was a medical corpsman, Biggs completed his bachelor's degree at Ohio State University in 1948. In August of that year, he became head athletic trainer and instructor of physical education at Bucknell University, where he remained until retiring.

1918 - 2006

Jack Aggers was a familiar figure in his home state of Wyoming and in NATA. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1950, returning as head athletic trainer eight years later. Aggers concentrated on generating interest among students, participating in a student workshop for 23 years. He was an NATA board member and an ambassador for athletic training in Canada and Europe.

1913 - 2005

Bruce Vogelsong retired after 34 years, leaving an impressive record of service as a state and conference leader. He got his medical training during World War II and served for the next 16 years as athletic trainer at a Pennsylvania high school. Vogelsong also served more than a decade at Dickinson College and as a part-time athletic trainer for the Washington Redskins.

1919 - 2001

Joe Romo's 38-year career was filled with diversity. An active athlete, Romo played for (and helped coach and train) five AAU basketball teams and four professional football clubs. After stints as athletic trainer and coach at three small colleges, he was head athletic trainer at Brown University (1959-64) and the University of San Francisco (1964-69). Romo ended his athletic training career by working for 13 years as head athletic trainer for the Oakland A's baseball club; he retired in 1982

Leo Murphy became a legendary figure with the Cleveland Browns, working with the team from 1950-89. After graduating in 1948 from Notre Dame, where he was an athlete, Murphy cared for the Chicago Rockets and the New York Yankees before joining the Browns. He has been a sought-after speaker and was the first recipient of the Cleveland Touchdown Club's Meritorious Service Award. He is retired.

In his 40 years at Bowdoin College, Mike Linkovich earned the respect of students and colleagues alike. He was an athletic trainer for the Olympic Organizing Committee at the 1980 Winter Olympics and served at the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1981 National Sports Festival. Linkovich, a former president of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association, is retired but still leads by example in giving back to his profession.

1932 - 2005

Bobby Lane never limited himself to one job during his 28 years at the University of Texas at Arlington. He first joined UTA as an athletic trainer and assistant track coach in 1953; throughout his tenure he added instructor to his title as well. Lane worked tirelessly to promote the profession in Texas and abroad, serving as an athletic trainer for various international games.