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ROLAND 'DUKE' LaRUE - 1997
 Duke LaRue has spent over 20 years at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln directing the Athletic Training Curriculum and Student Health Physical Therapy Department.
Duke earned his bachelor's degree from Buena Vista College in 1950, his master's degree from Wyoming in 1957, and his physical therapy certificate from Iowa in 1964. LaRue started his professional career as a high school trainer and teacher in Schleswig, Iowa. He then went on to hold athletic training and physical therapy positions with Michigan State, Purdue University, and Western Illinois University before coming to the Cornhusker state.
Duke served as an athletic therapist for the U.S. Olympic teams at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan in 1972, and in Lake Placid, N.Y. in 1980. LaRue was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1990 and the MAATA Hall of Fame in 1995. Duke received the NSATA's George Sullivan Athletic Training of the Year Award in 1993 and honored with the 20 year Service Award in 1997.
LaRue has served on many committees on the National, District, and State Athletic Training Association levels over the years including the Nebraska Athletic Trainer's State Board of Licensure.
PAUL J. SCHNEIDER - 1997
 One of the more colorful personalities in Nebraska athletic history, 'Schnitz', as he was known to thousands of Cornhuskers, served on the University of Nebraska medical staff as athletic trainer for 33 years before his retirement in 1981.
Schneider received his degree from UNL in 1952. In 1956, Schneider was made a lifetime member of the Nebraska Coaches Association for his service to high school athletics. He received the NATA's 25 Year Service Award in 1975 and the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Merit Award in 1978. Schneider then received his highest honor in 1985 by being inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame.
Schnitz's many contributions to the profession of Athletic Training at the collegiate and high school levels helped pave the way for the new generation of Athletic Trainers today.
GEORGE F. SULLIVAN - 1997
 For well over forty years George 'Sully' Sullivan has tended to University of Nebraska athletes. Sullivan, who received his bachelor's and master's degrees from UNL and his physical therapy degree from Iowa, first began working in the Husker training room as a part-time student trainer in 1949.
Among his many contributions and honors, the U.S. Olympic Committee named Sullivan as trainer for the 1959 and 1962 Pan Am Games. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1984, Sullivan was presented the M.E. Sacksteder Award by the Nebraska State Physical Therapy Association for outstanding contributions in the field. In 1988, he received the American Medical Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine's Distinguished Service Award. Sullivan received the inaugural and 1994 NSATA Athletic Trainer of the Year Award, which now carries his name. Also, in 1994, George received the coveted inaugural Tim Kerin Award for Excellence in Athletic Training, sponsored by Gatorade and the NATA. Sully was then inducted into the MAATA Hall of Fame in 1995.
Sullivan has been an active speaker throughout the nation for groups such as the AMA, NATA, APTA and State Coaches Associations in the Midwest. Sullivan has been very active in National, District, and Nebraska Athletic Training Associations by holding offices and sitting on various committees including the Committee to establish Athletic Training Licensure in Nebraska and the Nebraska Athletic Trainers State Board of Licensure.
WAYNE WAGNER - 1997
 Wayne Wagner has served the field of Athletic Training as a teacher and athletic trainer for the past 41 years. He has published articles in the NATA journal and served as the site administrator and proctor for NATA BOC for the past 10 years.
Wayne started at Omaha University upon his discharge from the Army Air Corp. He was a student in the college of education and played on the football team. He was injured his sophomore year and the team physician recognized his work ethic and encouraged him to stay on as athletic trainer as there was no staff athletic trainer at the university at that time.
Upon graduation from Omaha University in 1955, Wayne stayed at the University for one year until he accepted a job at Westside High School (Omaha) as a teach / athletic trainer. In 1957 he joined the NATA and stayed at Westside High School until 1967. Wagner returned to Omaha University as an assistant professor / athletic trainer. In 1968 he went to Indiana University to receive his Master's degree in Health and Safety with a Major in Athletic Training. Wayne then moved back to Omaha to attend the Nebraska University of Omaha (formerly called Omaha University) until 1985.
Wayne found himself net at Creighton University for five years until 1990 when he was given the opportunity to set up the Sports Medicine Program of his dreams at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. Wayne stayed full-time with Methodist until his retirement in 1995.
Kathy English
 Kathy English has administered the athletic training program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney since 1981. English received her undergraduate education from Southeast Community College (1976), and Kearney State College (1979), and her Masters Degree from Eastern Illinois University (1980). She then returned to Kearney, Nebraska and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. From 1981-93, English served as the Head Athletic Trainer and a Lecturer. English was responsible for providing athletic training services for 16 NCAA II sports, administered the athletic training program, and served as a faculty member. English presently serves as the Director of Athletic Training Services, and is a lecturer within the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies.
English is an active member in the National Athletic Trainers Association, Mid America Athletic Trainers Association, and is charter member of the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association. She is also a member of Board of Examiners: Athletic Training; State of Nebraska Department of Health, a member of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honorary, and Phi Eta Sigma National Honorary. In 1989, English received the George Sullivan Athletic Trainer of the Year Award presented by the NSATA. She served as Chair of the MAATA College/University Student Athletic Trainer Committee from 1989-93.
English has coordinated medical coverage for NCAA II Wrestling and Cross Country meets, as well as Women’s National Basketball Tournaments, and National Indoor Track meets. English has also lectured on Medical Emergencies in Athletics, and Athletic Emergencies and the Emergency Responder. English’s most recent project is to coordinate and direct the high school outreach athletic training programs with the goal of providing on-site fall athletic event coverage and meeting health care needs for area high school athletes.
When English began her career in athletic training, the profession had very few female role models. She has been one of the pioneering women in athletic training for the state of Nebraska, and District V. She has been very influential in promoting women in athletic training through the image she portrays.
English is married to Dana English, and they have four children: Georgia, Ashley, Lindsey, and Lance.
Jerry Weber
 Jerry Weber begins his 26th year on the Nebraska Athletic Medicine staff and his fifth year as the Head Athletic Trainer and Associate Director of Athletic Medicine.
In his duties as head athletic trainer and physical therapist, he oversees the operation of all athletic medicine facilities and supervises the Husker staff of athletic trainers, graduate and undergraduate student assistants. Along with his duties as head trainer, Weber directs all orthopedic rehabilitation and coordinates the return to sport programs with orthopedic specialists and training staff. During the winter
months he also works with the men’s gymnastics team.
A Sidney, Neb., native, Weber earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology from UNL in 1974. He earned his physical therapy degree from UNMC in 1976 and his master’s degree from Western Illinois in 1977.
Weber is a member of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport where he recently served as a member of the working group that developed the new football out of season conditioning model and also served on the NCAA insurance task force. He is also the NCAA liaison to the
National Athletic Trainers Association’s College/University Athletic Trainers Committee. Weber served 10 years on the Nebraska State Examining Board for Athletic Trainers and is a member of the editorial board of Athletic Therapy Today.
In the fall of 2001 Weber was honored by the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame with their Lyle Bremser Special Merit Award. In 1991, Weber received the Sullivan Award from the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association recognizing excellence in athletic training and has been recognized for 25 years of service to that organization. He has been active in the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) at the state, district and national levels since 1978, having served on the board of directors and as a presidential candidate.
The Nebraska medical team has two physical therapist/athletic trainers, five athletic trainers, six graduate assistant certified athletic trainers and 28 student assistants in the athletic training curriculum - all required to care for more than 700 Husker student-athletes.
Craig Holz
 Craig Holz is a native Nebraskan born in North Platte. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney with his bachelor’s of art and received his a Masters of Science in Athletic Training from Central Missouri State University. He has worked numerous Olympic events all across the world. He is currently a
teacher/ athletic trainer at Millard South High School in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been very active with in the Mid-America Athletic Trainer’s association through out the years. He has been the President of the Nebraska State Athletic Trainer’s Association, chairman of the exhibit committee for the districts annual convention, chairman of the spring symposium committee and a presenter at the National con-vention
in Kansas City. He is the recipient of the George Sullivan Athletic Trainer of the Year (1988) 25-year service award (NATA) and Millard South Teacher of the Year (1986). He is a member of the NATA since 1973, NSATA since 1980, and National Education Association since 1976. The most important accomplishment is a wife, Julia, a daughter Kara (pediatric Oncology nurse), and son
Andy. |
