Gary Smith has contributed greatly to Athletic Training in Minnesota and to the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association in over 30 years of service. On the state level, he has been the State Representative to the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA), worked on two committees hosting the GLATA Annual Symposium, and served on a task force for athletic training legislation in Minnesota. He has also served on the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Drug Education Committee. Gary has worked in Minnesota since 1969, starting as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Minnesota. He has been associated with the Institute for Athletic Medicine in various capacities since 1977, including the position of Head Athletic Trainer at Eden Prairie High School. Other experiences include professional soccer and hockey (Minnesota Kicks and Strikers, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Moose). Gary was also the Athletic Trainer for the 1976 University of Minnesota Mens' Hockey National Champions and for the USA Hockey "Miracle on Ice" team at Lake Placid in 1980.