The Minnesota Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame honors athletic trainers in the state of Minnesota who have made a significant impact through their professionalism, leadership, and service to the MATA. The Hall of Fame is the summit of all MATA awards that recognizes the athletic trainers’ lifetime achievements in the athletic training profession. Eligibility for nomination into the MATA Hall of Fame must include significant evidence in the following areas:

  • Appropriate length of time in the profession (minimum of 15 years with at least 10 of those years in Minnesota)
  • Involvement in a MATA designated committee(s)
  • Athletic training presentations at local, state, district, or national meetings
  • Athletic training publications
  • Involvement in GLATA and NATA
  • Involvement in community organizations

NOMINATION PROCEDURE AND CRITERIA*

  • Must be an active member of MATA and in good standing
  • Must be BOC certified and a licensed athletic trainer in Minnesota for a minimum of 10 years
  • Must have a current NPI#
  • Must include the nominee’s current resume or CV (preferred) with your nomination form to supplement the information that you have provided in the nomination form
  • Must include two (2) letters of recommendation printed on letterhead stationery. One letter must be from a licensed physician. Please do not send more than three (3) letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are based on quality, not quantity. All letters must be signed and delivered with all other paperwork.
  • Please keep the athletic trainer’s nomination confidential

* Note the above eligibility requirements are for nomination purposes only and does not guarantee the individual will meet the required scoring based on their resume/cv to achieve Hall of Fame honors.

Include the Following Information in Your Nomination

  • Overall contributions to the profession of athletic training
  • Involvement in the MATA, GLATA, and NATA
  • Overall evidence of dedication and active support of the athletic training profession in Minnesota must be included in the nomination essay

Selection & Notification Process

  1. The Honors and Awards Chairperson will review the nominations and forward to the Honors and Awards Committee members for review and recommendation of winners.
  2. The Honors and Awards Chairperson will notify the MATA Executive Committee for final approval of winners.
  3. The Honors and Awards Chairperson will notify the winners by letter, email, and/or phone no later than 30 days prior to the awards banquet.
  4. All winners will be presented awards at the annual awards banquet during the MATA Annual Business Meeting and Clinical Symposia.
  5. If the recipient is unable to attend the awards banquet, they may defer for one year to accept the award in person.

Nomination submissions and questions can be directed to the MATA Honors and Awards Chair at honors.awards@mnata.com.

Nominate Here

Click on each name to read their remarkable personal and professional biographies.

Hall of Fame

Gordon Graham

Charter Member 1993

Jim Marshall

Charter Member 1993

Lloyd "Snapper" Stein

Charter Member 1993

Fred Zamberletti

Charter Member 1993

George Spano

Inducted 1994

Gary Reinholtz

Inducted 1996

Jeff Monroe

Inducted 2001

Gary Smith

Inducted 2002

Dr. Cynthia "Sam" Booth

Inducted 2003

Neal S. Dutton

Inducted 2005

Roger L. Schipper

Inducted 2005

Kent Kalm 2006

Inducted 2006

Steve Marti 2007

Inducted 2007

Lori K. Glover

Inducted 2009

Dr. Patrick Sexton

Inducted 2014

Inducted 2018

Inducted 2019

Inducted 2022

Gordon Graham

Charter Member 1993

Gordon L. "Gordy" Graham is a charter member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) Hall of Fame, and is one of the pioneers of Athletic Training education in Minnesota.  Graham served as Mankato State University's Head Athletic Trainer from 1964-1992.  He initiated and developed MSU's National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) approved Athletic Training Educational program, one of the first four such programs in the nation.  Graham has served as President of MATA, President of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA), and on the Board of Directors for the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA).  He was one of the initial supporters of Athletic Training legislation in Minnesota.  Gordon Graham's other honors include:  the NATA Hall of Fame (1994), the North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Meritorious Service Award (1991) and Hall of Distinction (1993), and the Mankato State University Athletic Hall of Distinction (1996).

Jim Marshall

Charter Member 1993

Jim Marshall is a charter member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) Hall of Fame and is one of the pioneers of Athletic Training in Minnesota.  Marshall took over as Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Minnesota in 1975, after serving as an assistant to Lloyd "Snapper" Stein for 14 years.  Marshall has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) since he was a student at the University of Notre Dame.  He has served as Athletic Trainer at numerous Minnesota State High School League tournaments and for various high school teams in Twin City area conferences during his time as the Athletic Trainer at the U of M.  Although Marshall's college career was interrupted by four years of service on US Navy submarines during the Korean conflict, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Notre Dame in 1959.  Marshall then received his certification in Physical Therapy from the Mayo Clinic in 1961.

Lloyd "Snapper" Stein

Charter Member 1993

Lloyd "Snapper" Stein is a charter member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) Hall of Fame and was one of the pioneers of Athletic Training in Minnesota.  Stein became the Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Minnesota in 1935 and cared for athletic injuries until his retirement in 1975.  Stein can truly be called the "grandfather of Athletic Training" in Minnesota.  He witnessed many changes in the profession during his career.  Stein graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1932 with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and served as the freshman Athletic Trainer from 1932-34.  He also completed a degree in Physical Therapy.  In 1935, he became the U of M's Head Athletic Trainer.  Stein was a mentor and colleague to many who practice Athletic Training in Minnesota and across the nation.  Lloyd "Snapper" Stein is also an inductee into the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Hall of Fame.

Fred Zamberletti

Charter Member 1993

Fred Zamberletti is a charter member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) Hall of Fame and is one of the pioneers of Athletic Training in Minnesota.  In 1961, Zamberletti was one of the first persons hired for the National Football League's new team, the Minnesota Vikings as their first Head Athletic Trainer.   He has never missed a practice or game in over 37 years of service.  After earning his Bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1955 and his Master's degree in Physical Therapy from Iowa in 1956, Zamberletti worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at his alma mater in 1956 and 1958-59.  He also served as the Athletic Trainer at the University of Toledo (OH) before joining the Vikings.  Zamberletti has served as the Clinical Symposium Director for the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association (GLATA) Annual Meeting (1987) and was named Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) in 1985.  In 1996, Zamberletti and his staff were named the "NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers' Society (PFATS).

George Spano

Inducted 1994

George Spano was one of the pioneers of Athletic Training in Minnesota.  George served as the Hamline University Athletic Trainer from 1957 until his death in 1985.  He also served as Assistant Athletic Trainer in the early 1960's for the Minnesota Vikings and worked on a free-lance basis for the Minneapolis Lakers and several other professional teams in the Twin Cities.  Amazingly, Athletic Training was a part-time job for Spano, as he worked for Hennepin County Juvenile Courts in Social Work.  Spano concentrated on football, hockey, and track during his tenure at Hamline University, but attended to any athlete who asked for his help, regardless of sport.  Spano was inducted into the Hamline University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.

Gary Reinholtz

Inducted 1996

Gary Reinholtz has been a driving force in the Athletic Training profession locally and nationally since 1972. Reinholtz served most of his career as the Head Athletic Trainer and Athletic Training Curriculum Director at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN.  Reinholtz has been a member or chaired numerous Athletic Training committees, locally and nationally. Examples include: Newsletter Editor for the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA), Vice -President of GLATA;  Convention and Program Chair for the GLATA on two separate occasions, and the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Service Award Subcommittee. Gary has held almost every available elected office in the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA). He was one of the original members of the first Licensure Committee in 1979, which eventually became the Legislative Task Force. He helped draft the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Act that was passed into law in 1993. In 1996, Reinholtz received the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Service Award.

Leah Wollenburg-Gutekunst

Inducted 1999

Leah Wollenburg Gutekunst can be considered a pioneer in Athletic Training in Minnesota.  She played an instrumental role in the early days of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA), serving as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President.  She also served two terms as the State Representative to the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA).  In 1987, Leah helped organize the 1987 GLATA Convention in Rochester. Leah received her Bachelor's degree in Physical Education with an Athletic Training Minor from the University of North Dakota in 1977 and a Master's degree from Colorado State University in Education. In September of 1978, she was hired as the Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Student Services for the Women's Athletic Department at the University of Minnesota, a position she held until May of 1992. Notable accomplishments during her tenure at the University included initiation of the student athletic trainer program and developing nutritional and other educational programs for athletes.

Jeff Monroe

Inducted 2001

Jeff Monroe was a pioneer in Athletic Training in Minnesota. He was instrumental in the formation of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) in the late 1970's and served the association in vital roles in those early days. Jeff graduated from The Ohio State University in Physical Education in 1972 and earned his Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of North Dakota in 1974. Starting in 1975, Jeff spent ten very busy years in the state of Minnesota as the Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Minnesota. In his time at the U of M, he was the Minnesota State Representative to the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA), from 1978 until 1980, and President of the MATA from 1981-1983. In 1985, Jeff became the Head Athletic Trainer at Michigan State University. In the years since he has left Minnesota, he has been awarded the 1999 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Service Award and the 1999 Michigan Athletic Trainers' Society (MATS) Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. Other notable positions held: 1994 Chair of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA) Winter Meeting, multiple years on the Governmental Affairs Committee of MATS, 1993 member of the NATA Ethics Committee, and Vice President of GLATA, starting in 200. Jeff has numerous publications and presentations to his credit at the local, district and national level.

Gary Smith

Inducted 2002

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.

Dr. Cynthia "Sam" Booth

Inducted 2003

Dr. Cynthia "Sam" Booth became a Certified Athletic Trainer in 1981. She received her Bachelor's degree in Physical Education with a minor in Athletic Training from West Virginia University in 1978. She earned her Master's degree in Education in 1982 from the University of Kansas with an emphasis in Administration of Physical Education and Kinesiology. From 1980-82, she served as the Head Women's Athletic Trainer. She moved to Morgantown, WV, in 1982 to work as the clinical assistant at Morgantown Physical Therapy Associates. In 1983, she became an Assistant Athletic Trainer at West Virginia University, a position she held until her move to Minnesota State University-Moorhead in 1987. "Sam" served as the head athletic trainer for 12 years and earned the rank of Assistant Professor during her tenure at MSU-Moorhead. She was instrumental in assisting the university in attaining an approved athletic training major. "Sam" left MSU-Moorhead in 1999 to pursue a hospital administrative position with MeritCare Health System, where she oversees outpatient therapy, Sports Medicine and Chiropractic Services. In May, 2000, she earned her PhD in Educational Leadership from the university of North Dakota. "Sam has been a strong leader for the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association, serving as the state representative to the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA), and then became District Director (NATA District 4) in 1995, a position she held for the next six years. She was awarded the "Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer" Award by the National Athletic Trainers' Association in 2002. "Sam" has published and presented at the state, district and national levels. She has been a mentor and inspirations for hundreds of athletic training students and an advocate for athletic trainers in the state and district through her leadership and professional involvement.

Neal S. Dutton

Inducted 2005

Neal Dutton has been a long-time active member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association. He served as President and President-Elect from 1991-1994. In addition, Neal has served as the Minnesota Representative to the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA) and Chair of the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice Athletic Trainer's Advisory Council. Neal also worked to help bring the Minnesota Athletic Trainer's Act into law in 1993. He is the recipient of the 1994 MATA Appreciation of Service Award and the 1999 NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award. Neal is involved in several community service committees, has been a speaker at local and national athletic training conferences and was a member of the original MATA Golf Tournament and Awards Banquet Committee. Neal received his Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Eastern Washington University in 1979, and his Master's Degree from South Dakota State University in 1980. Since 1980, Neal has been working at Bethel Univeristy in a variety of roles. He began as an instructor in Health and Physical Education and as Bethel's Head Athletic Trainer. He then worked to develop the school's CAAHEP Accredited Athletic Training Education Program in which he serves as program director and clinical instructor. Neal also held the position of Head Baseball Coach during the early 1980's.

Roger L. Schipper

Inducted 2005

Roger Schipper has been a valuable member of the MATA for many years. He served as President and President-elect from 1983-1987. He has also served on many committees including Public Relations, Golf and Honors and Awards. In addition, he served as Co-exhibit chairman for the 1987 GLATA Annual Winter Symposium in Rochester, MN. Roger was a recipient of the 199 NATA Service Award. As a native Minnesotan, Roger attended Worthington State Junior College and received his Bachelors degree from Mankato State University and his Master's Degree from Western Illinois University. Roger has worked with athletes at all levels, from junior college to the professional ranks.  He served as head Athletic Trainer at Rochester Community College and the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse before joining the staff at the University of Minnesota. Over the years, he has served as Athletic Trainer for several NCAA championships, including the Final Four in 1992 and 2001 and was Medical Services Coordinator for the 1999 NCAA Golf Championship. He was chosen to work the 1983 and 1990 USOC Olympic Festivals and was an Athletic Trainer at the 1991 World University Games in Sheffield, England.

Kent Kalm 2006

Inducted 2006

Dr. Kent Kalm has been providing his time and knowledge to the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association and to the State of Minnesota for over 30 years, serving as the first Head Athletic Trainer at St. Cloud State University to his 26 years of teaching and service in athletic training at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He was a founding member of the MATA and served as President and President Elect of the organization. He has presented at the MATA, GLATA and NATA meetings. He has recently provided his expertise as the technician responsible for recent MATA webcasts. Kent is a native Minnesotan, who received his Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a minor in Athletic Training from Mankato State University.  He received his Master of Science from St. Cloud State University. He went on to get his Doctorate of Education from the University of Utah. Dr. Kalm was an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Performance at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has been integrally involved in the development of curriculum programs. He developed an athletic training minor at St. Cloud State University, as well as a graduate level sports medicine tract and an undergraduate athletic training major at MSU-Mankato. He has also been involved with program and course development in the areas of exercise physiology, health, fitness and athletic training/sports medicine at MSU-Mankato and other organizations. Kent has been very active in the community and at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He served on a multitude of committees and organizations to promote health, wellness, educations, athletic training and sports medicine.

Steve Marti 2007

Inducted 2007

Steve Marti has impacted many lives since beginning his career as an athletic trainer in 1975.  He received a Bachelor's Degree and ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in 1973 and minors in athletic training and coaching in 1976 from the university of North Dakota. His Master's degree was completed at Fort Hays State University in 1977. During his career as an athletic trainer, he worked for The University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa and the Institute for Athletic Medicine, where he covered Armstrong High School for 17 years. Steve was President and President-Elect of the MATA from 1992-1996, a founder of the MATA Golf Tournament Committee and Recognition Banquet and chair for eleven years, which raised more money for the MATA and its charities than any other project. Steve has written articles for several publications, served on committees to organize sports medicine educational conferences, and made presentations to educate athletic trainers, physical therapists and physicians on a variety of topics. He has been consistently recognized and honored by his peers and employer for exemplary performance, receiving the MATA Recognition Award three times, the NATA Distinguished Service Award in 1996 and Employee of the Year Award from Fairview in 1996. Beyond providing excellent care for athletes at the schools he covered, Steve has provide his expertise as a volunteer for organizations and special events such as Courage Center, Special Olympics, MS Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Twin Cities Marathon. Steve always had a desire to be a firefighter. Wanting a new challenge, he took his athletic training knowledge, skills and work ethic to become a paid on-call firefighter for the City of Plymouth in 2003. Steve has received the honors of 2004 Rookie of the Year and 2005 Firefighter of the Year.

Lori K. Glover

Inducted 2009

Lori Glover has been instrumental in legislative efforts for the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association. She was part of the committee that successfully lobbied the Athletic Trainers' Practice Act, signed into law in 1993. She has served on the MATA Legislative/Reimbursement Committee for 20 years, and Chairperson for 10 years. After passage of the law, Lori served 10 years as a member of the Athletic Trainers' Advisory Council for the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, part as chairperson. She served as President-Elect and President for the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association. Lori is a permanent member of the Minnesota State High School League Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. Lori earned her Bachelor's Degree from Mankato State University in 1981. Lori received a post-graduate scholarship from the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association and attended Indiana State University where she earned a Master's degree with a specialization in Sports Medicine. She also earned a MHA from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL. In 1998, Lori was named the Institute of Athletic Medicine (IAM) Community Sports Medicine Director. She later added Director of Minnesota Sports Medicine and Administrator for the Physical Therapy Sports Residency Program, Research and Education in 2006.  Pror to this role, Lori was the Athletic Trainer Supervisor for the IAM and has provided athletic training services at Park Center High School. She was the Head Athletic Trainer at Rochester Community College from 1985-1987. Lori was a contributing author for the book Sports Medicine for Young Athletes. Lori has received the National Service Award from the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Special Recognition Award for her work with the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Act from the MATA and the Athletic Trainer Recognition Award. Lori has also volunteered for many organizations, notably US Figure Skating, World Women's Hockey Championships, USA Cup and Special Olympics.

Dr. Patrick Sexton

Inducted 2014

Patrick Sexton, EdD, ATC, CSCS, Professor and  the Director of Athletic Training Education at Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN.  He began his career as an undergraduate athletic training student at the then Mankato State University in 1985.  Studying under Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame members Gordy Graham and Kent Kalm, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Athletic Training.  He earned his Master of Science in Athletic Training and Exercise Science (1986) at the University of Arizona. Since that time Sexton also served as an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Wyoming.  In 1988 Sexton accepted a position as a clinical instructor and faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.  When he left LaCrosse in 1993 he was the Head Athletic Trainer, the Director of Athletic Training Education, and the President of the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association.  Dr. Sexton then accepted the Position of Head Athletic Trainer/Assistant Professor at his alma mater, which was renamed Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU).  He completed his Doctor of Education degree in Educational Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota in 2001. 
He has taught virtually every course and content area contained within an athletic training program. He even has developed an iBook app for use by the students in his program.

He has been active on the state, district, and national level, and has served as a member of the Joint Review Committee on Athletic Training Education (JRC-AT) and as the vice-chair of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) i.e. the committee on accreditation for athletic training educational programs and a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Professional Education Committee (PEC) and the PEC's Clinical Instructor Educator task committee.  He has been a frequent speaker at state, district, and national meetings and has authored or co-authored journal articles in the Athletic Training Education Journal (ATEJ), the Journal of Athletic Training (JAT), Athletic Therapy Today (ATT), and the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) as well as a textbook chapter for General Medical Conditions in Athletes.  Dr. Sexton is a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Athletic Training, the Athletic Training Education Journal, Sports Health Care: A Multidisciplinary Approach, was an Associate Editor and a reviewer for Athletic Therapy Today, now called the International Journal of Athletic Training and Therapy.

Dr. Sexton has received the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA) Outstanding Educator Award, the GLATA Distinguished Service Award, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Athletic Trainer Service Award, and multiple Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) Athletic Trainer Recognition awards.  In 2010 Dr. Sexton received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (NATA) Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.  In 2013 the Minnesota Athletic Trainers’ Association Larry “Stosh” Neumann Distinguished Service Award was given to Dr. Sexton.

Inducted 2018

A member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) for more than four decades and a member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA) since 1980, Scott Westermann has made a substantial contribution on the local, regional and state levels.

A graduate of Golden Valley Lutheran College and the University of Minnesota, Westermann provided athletic training services to Hopkins High School, affiliated with Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis.  Prior to that, he provided services for Osseo High School, Maple Grove High School and Augsburg College.  Upon graduation from the University of Minnesota, Scott enjoyed a year as an athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Reds minor league team in Greensboro, NC.  He has also served as a concussion spotter for the National Football League (NFL).

Westermann has been saluted with several honors during his career, including the Fred Zamberletti Award from the National Football Foundation in 2013, The NATA Service Award in 2013, the MATA Larry "Stosh" Neumann Distinguished Service Award in 2017, the MATA Service Award in 2013, and the MATA Outstanding Athletic Trainer Recognition Award in 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2011.

A member of the MATA Golf Committee since its inception in 1993 and the MATA Honors and Awards Chairman from 2005-2015, Westermann also served as a volunteer for the United States National Figure Skating Championships in 1991, the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championships in 1992, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in 1996, the World Figure Skating Championships in 1998, the NCAA Men's Golf Championships in 1999, the USGA Women's Open Golf Tournament in 2008, the PGA Championships in 2002 and 2009, and the Ryder Cup in 2016.  

Inducted 2019

Mike Doyle has made a significant impact on the athletic training profession by his vision and implementation of the role of the athletic trainer in the clinical setting. As a past Minnesota Athletic Trainers’ Association (MATA) President (twice), MATA Government Affairs Committee Chair and member, and MATA Third Party Reimbursement Chair, he spent countless hours meeting with legislators and lobbyists, as well as supporters and opposers, to improve the language in the MATA practice act. Changing from registration to licensure was also part of that movement. Doyle has been involved in National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association (GLATA) committees, workgroups, and conferences that promoted the utilization of athletic trainers in the clinical setting and in the secondary school setting. Doyle was a founding member of Athletic Trainers in the Physician Practice Society (ATPPS). Doyle received a BA and a MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He accepted a position with the Douglas County Hospital staff in Alexandria MN in 1994 as Athletic Training Coordinator. He established an Athletic Training Program at Alexandria High School including the hiring and management of staff, and creating an outreach program to provide services for other area schools. He has been the Administrative Director of Orthopedics at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists in Alexandria since 2008. Doyle received the MATA Larry “Stosh” Award in 2011 and the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award in 2012. He has presented at several state, regional and national conferences, including meetings with federal legislators, and has been a member of the Minnesota Alliance for Athletics Trainers Board since 2015. In addition to his athletic training accomplishments, Doyle has been highly involved in community events, including a term as President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

Inducted 2022

A leading voice and an influential member of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association (MATA), Brent Millikin has made notable and often groundbreaking contributions at the local, state, district, and national levels for several decades. Millikin received degrees from the University of Iowa and Southwest Texas State and then began his career at Southwest Texas State before the profession guided him to the University of Minnesota in 1989. During his time there, he worked as an assistant athletic trainer with wrestling, swimming and diving, track and field, tennis, golf, gymnastics, baseball and football and helped coordinate medical coverage for Big Ten and National Championships.  In 2002, Millikin started working with an orthopedic group in the Twin Cities and is now the Manager of Sports Medicine, Podiatry and Orthopedic Services for Allina Health Orthopedics. His work in the orthopedic practice led to one of the first usages of athletic trainers in the clinical setting.

Millikin served as MATA Vice President, President-elect, and President. During his time as President he would be at the forefront of several MATA initiatives including a new youth sports-based concussion legislation, passed by the Minnesota legislature in 2011. This led Millikin to do several media interviews in support of the legislation, putting more eyes on the impact the MATA has on Minnesota sports in providing safe and quality health care. Millikin was a front-facing individual for the MATA leading to numerous speaking engagements and presentations in Minnesota and the MATA, along with the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association (GLATA) and National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).

Millikin was a long-time member, including the chair for one year, of the MATA Legislative Committee to Governmental Affairs. He has been a member of the MATA Honors and Awards Committee since 2005. Millikin has been a key member on the GLATA and NATA COPA Committees, serving as chair for the NATA Worth to Value Workgroup, and the NATA Athletic Trainer Physician Extender Executive Task Force.

A recipient of the MATA Larry “Stosh” Neumann Award, the MATA Service Award and the MATA Outstanding Athletic Trainer Recognition Award, he has also received the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award and the GLATA Dedicated Service Award.