Jun 25, 2016
NATA 2016: Hall of Fame & Keynote

Check back here to read T&C Managing Editor Mary Kate Murphy’s insights from the floor of the NATA 67th Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Baltimore. Mary Kate is armed with a pen, pad, and a list of educational seminars and will spend the rest of the week taking in the sights and sounds of the convention, sharing her observations in this blog.

Body 2:

Friday, 5:18 p.m.

The afternoon of the second full day of the NATA Convention is always one of my favorite times because of the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Johnson & Johnson Keynote Speaker. This year’s sessions did not disappoint. Another special class entered the NATA Hall of Fame this year. Each inductee has left a legacy in athletic training, but it was wonderful to hear how they are all still eager to keep learning, growing, and improving. The NATA put on a wonderful Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and the new members each gave touching speeches. Congratulations to all!

Without further ado, here is a list of the 2016 Hall of Fame class:

  • David Craig, LAT, ATC, is the Owner of Craig Consulting in Indianapolis and spent 35 years as the Indiana Pacers’ Head Athletic Trainer
  • Michael Goldenberg, MS, ATC, Athletic Trainer at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey
  • Bob Gray, MS, ATC, Coordinator of Athletic Training Community Affairs at the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health
  • Scott Linaker, MS, AT, ATC, Athletic Trainer and Partner at Arizona Sports Care
  • Eric McDonnell, MEd, LAT, ATC, is an Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Missouri
  • Patrick Sexton, EdD, ATR, ATC, is the Director and Professor of Athletic Training at Minnesota State University, Mankato and is currently Athletic Trainer Director of the Board of Certification
  • Gary Wilkerson, EdD, ATC, FNATA, is a Professor of Graduate Athletic Training at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

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Not long after the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, I was lucky to take in the Johnson & Johnson Keynote Presentation, which featured Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton. He shared his journey from gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics to creating his own touring show, Stars on Ice, to his battle with cancer. And he made it clear that athletic trainers played a key role at every stop. Here are some of my favorite quotes from his speech that highlighted the significance athletic trainers had on his career:

  • On how important athletic trainers were to the Stars on Ice Tour: “Athletic trainers were all the king’s horses and all the king’s men … EXCEPT they put us back together again.”
  • A “question” for the audience: “Is there an athlete ever who could have done it without you? The answer is no.”
  • On how athletic trainers helped him recover from cancer and get back to skating: “Athletic trainers helped me break down my scar tissue, strengthen my core, and get back to life.”
  • After sharing a favorite saying about how everyone has one wing and that pairing with athletic trainers have given him a full set: “You’ve allowed me to fly.” 

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