1874 - 1977
Carl Erickson, a legend to many generations of Northwestern University athletes, was best known by his nickname of “Gloomy” because of his sullen facial expression. Yet Erickson is remembered for his affection for Wildcat athletes, whom he cared for from 1928-51.
1892 - 1984
When Chuck Cramer concocted a balm to ease his sprained ankle, he launched an industry that has complemented sports medicine since 1922. Cramer went on to produce a number of athletic training products with his brother, Frank. They served on the first-ever Olympic athletic training staff, in 1932, and they organized and funded NATA in its early years.
1887 - 1943
Claude “Big Monk” Simons, head athletic trainer at Tulane University from 1921 until his death in 1943, has gone down in history as one of the great names in intercollegiate athletics. Simons was head coach for basketball, baseball, track and boxing at Tulane and president of the Southern Amateur Athletic Union.
1886 - 1953
From 1913-47 David “Matt” Bullock saw to it that football stars like Red Grange, George Halas, Buddy Young and other Fighting Illini stayed healthy. During his 34-year career at the University of Illinois, Bullock cared for more than 40,000 athletes.
1890 - 1960
Erastus Pennock joined the Springfield College faculty in 1925 and quickly established a reputation as an excellent wrestling coach and athletic trainer who pioneered athletic training education. During his 33 years at Springfield, Pennock gained widespread recognition for making the school's physical education department one of the best in the nation.
It isn’t exactly true that Earl “Click” Clark was Washington University’s athletic trainer all of his life; he was there for just 32 years. During his tenure at WU, Clark gained a reputation as a deft, intelligent athletic trainer. Clark played and later coached football before joining the Washington athletic training staff in 1927.
1882 - 1954
Einar Nielsen sailed to the U.S. from Norway in 1904 at age 22. Signing on as an athletic trainer for Utah in 1914, Nielsen is remembered as a man of quick wit, total dedication and impeccable skills. He is credited with launching athletic scholarship efforts on campus, and a fieldhouse bears his name as a reminder of his legacy.
1884 - 1965
Every Sunday for years, Tad Gormley hosted the “Gormley Games,” a track meet staged at City Park near Loyola University. Gormley, whose first love was track and field, served at Tulane, Loyola and Louisiana State as head athletic trainer and track coach. An outdoor stadium in New Orleans still bears his name.
1888 - 1971
Frank Cramer, who - along with his brother, Chuck - nurtured NATA through its infancy, helped shape the profession. The brothers' company produced The First Aider publication and hosted Cramer Camps, attracting hundreds of people to the profession. They are recognized in the elite Sporting Goods Hall of Fame and are heralded as cornerstones of sports medicine.
1886 - 1957
Frank Mann, who served for almost 25 years as athletic trainer at the University of Kentucky, is the original advocate for college athletic trainers. In 1906 he started his athletic training career at the University of Indiana, working next at Iowa, the University of Chicago and Purdue before landing at Kentucky.