NATA Hall of Fame

Nick Pappas, known for his legislative efforts, crafted the language for the Tennessee Practice Act and the creation of the state's Board of Athletic Trainers. He served as the charter president of the Georgia state association and president of the Tennessee association. He was instrumental in the formation of the Arena Football League Physicians and Athletic Trainers Association and has been involved as a volunteer and leader for many professional organizations and causes. Pappas works for the Florida State University Department of Athletics and teaches in the athletic training curriculum.

Dr. Robert “Bobby” Patton has served his alma mater, Texas State University, as athletic trainer and educator for half a century. A strong and committed proponent of education, Patton has developed over 30 courses in athletic training, more than 50 lectures and presentations, and created one of the first athletic training degree programs to receive national accreditation. Texas State University recently honored Patton with a scholarship in his name. In addition to his academic pursuits, Patton has been active in the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association, the Texas Athletic Trainers' Association and NATA. In 1971, he testified on behalf of the Texas licensure bill, the first athletic training practice act in the country.

Roger Kalisiak has been a committed activist at all levels of the profession. He co-authored his state licensure act and wrote a proposal that expanded from one to three the number of athletic trainers at each school in his high school's district. The only two-term president in the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association history, Kalisiak went on to be GLATA president and history and archives chair, and chaired the 1993 NATA annual meeting scientific program. Named the 1993 NATA High School Athletic Trainer of the Year, and NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer in 1995, Kalisiak also received the Hoffman Estates High School Principal's Award for Excellence and Golden Hawk Award, and the GLATA Golden Pinnacle Award.

Nearly 30 years at Michigan State University, Dr. Sally Nogle is an outstanding educator and professional who is an inspiration to students, athletes and colleagues. She presents regularly at athletic training meetings, is a textbook chapter author and product developer. Nogle chaired the NATA International and International Games Committees and served on the NATA Foundation board. Named a San Diego State University Robert J. Moore Distinguished Alumnus, Nogle has received the MSU Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award, GLATA Outstanding Educator Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award and Gail Weldon Award for Excellence, and was inducted into the MATS Hall of Fame.

Kip Smith's career started at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by nearly 30 years at Indiana University, where he is currently the head athletic trainer. Smith was a Board of Certification examiner and an active NATA Ethics Committee member, helping re-write the national association's code of ethics, and currently serves on the NATA Foundation Board of Directors. A committed member and past president of the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association, Smith was heavily involved in Indiana licensure and reimbursement efforts. He helped develop and pass the Indiana State House Enrolled Act 1467, which allows licensed athletic trainers to be reimbursed by insurers and health maintenance organizations.

Andy Paulin mentored hundreds of students and student athletes while serving as Head Athletic Trainer at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. He was extensively involved in NATA at the district and state level before becoming District Eight director, a position he held for six years beginning in 2002. Paulin worked the 1984 Summer Olympics and provided care for athletes at the Mt. SAC Relays, the world's largest track and field competition.

After six years as an assistant at Washington State, Barrie Steele found a home at the University of Idaho in 1986 and served as head AT before becoming Director of AT Services. Even before joining the Board of Directors, he held numerous involvement positions at the national level, including spots on the Finance Committee, Investment Committee, CUATC and the Secretary/Treasurers Committee. Steele also served as liaison to CAATE.

Chuck Kimmel was elected NATA president in 2004 and helped the association grow despite one of the nation's worst recessions. Among his many accomplishments, the Involve & Evolve! initiative to grow young leaders launched during his tenure, and he helped develop NATA's Political Action Committee. Kimmel's career at Austin Peay State University lasted 25 years before he accepted a position as Injury Clinic Director at Appalachian State.

A graduate of East Tennessee State, Jerry Robertson returned to ETSU and helped start the state's first graduate athletic training education program. Robertson was elected president of the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association in 1988 and served as three-year term as district director from 1991-94. Robertson left ETSU in 2003 and helped organize a secondary school outreach program at Watauga Orthopaedic in Johnson City, Tenn.

A Nebraska graduate, Jerry Weber returned in 1977 and worked at UN through his 2011 Hall of Fame Induction as Associate Director of Athletic Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer. On the field, he helped the Cornhuskers to three national football titles in the 1990s. Weber was the District Five director from 1987-90 and NATA VP in 1989-90. He was part of an NCAA task force that established new rules to protect football players during two-a-day practices.