Tony Martinez, A.T.C.
Anton J. Martinez has dedicated his life to the profession of athletic training. A tour of Vietnam was completed before Martinez attended the University of Nebraska – Omaha where he graduated in 1973. Martinez became the first high school certified athletic trainer / teacher in the state of Nebraska. He served in this capacity for 23 years. Martinez has also served as a consultant for Flex Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and has continued to use his athletic training background in an industrial setting.
Martinez has helped administer the NATABOC National Certification Exam for the past 30 years as a model, examiner, and a room captain. At the district level, Martinez has chaired and served on the Annual Symposium program committee and the Registration committee for ten years. He also was instrumental in creating the first student trainer programs and social events in District Five. For these and many other efforts Martinez was inducted into the Mid-America Athletic Trainer’s Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
Martinez has served as an athletic trainer for Junior Olympics, Pan American Games, Golden Gloves Boxing, the College World Series, Big 8 Volleyball Championships, and many NSAA High School Championship events since 1974.
Martinez received a declaration as an American Vietnam War Hero, by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and received the George F. Sullivan Athletic Trainer of the Year Award from the NSATA in 1995.
Through it all, his devoted wife Patricia has been by his side and together they have raised four wonderful children, Christian, Tara, Melissa, and Jason.
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