2022 Hall of Fame
Congratulations to our 2022 Inductees!
John Carollo
John Carollo was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He was 1989 graduate and student trainer at St. Charles Preparatory School. At the age of 17, John enlisted in the US Navy and served 5 years as a Russian Interpreter & Intelligence Analyst. During his enlistment, he graduated with honors from the distinguished Defense Language Institute and Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. He was stationed in Misawa, Japan and did tours at sea on submarines and aircraft carriers. He was a part of Operation Desert Storm. After the military, he graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1998 with a major in Athletic Training. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2002 with a Masters in Allied Health Management. John has been certified since 1998 and licensed in Texas and Ohio. He has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Senior Certified Professional by the Society of Human Resource Managers, American Heart Association BLS CPR/AED Training Center Faculty, and an Instructor Trainer for StopTheBleed.
John’s professional career has truly been worldwide. He has never found a position that didn’t hold boundless opportunities for him. The highlight of his career has been being part of the Team USA Medical Staff at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. During his career, he has worked at The Ohio State University, Columbus State Community College, United States Olympic Committee, US Fencing, USA Wrestling, US Synchronized Swimming, Kingdom of Bahrain Olympic Committee, Arabian Gulf Rugby, Cleveland Cavaliers, Baltimore Ravens, Florida Panthers, San Antonio Rampage, San Antonio Talons Arena Football, San Antonio Scorpions Soccer Club, San Antonio Orthopaedic Group, North East ISD (Roosevelt HS), Marion ISD, Northside ISD (Clark HS & currently at John Marshall HS), and in the oilfields with Sanjel and Halliburton.
John has received numerous awards and recognitions, including 3 from Superintendents & School Boards for live saving measures. John is most proud of being able to mentor so many young athletic trainers and continues to partner with local universities.
John married Marli (Hoelscher) Carollo LAT, ATC in 1999, and has 3 children (Robert, Lillian & Joseph). John credits his early love of sports and work ethic to his mother, Judi Carollo, Uncle Laddi Frisinger, and high school trainer David Litt, PhD, RN, ATC.
Allen Eggert
Allen Eggert graduated from San Jacinto HS in 1958. He earned an Associate of Arts from Kilgore Junior College, a Bachelor of Science and Health from Rice University, and Masters of Arts in Human Relations from California Western University.
With the help of Jack Cramer, Allen secured the Head Athletic Trainer position at California Western University from 1963 –1967. The highlight of this position was a view of the Pacific Ocean from his office. In 1968, after the passing of Eddie Wojecki, Allen Eggert was offered the Head Athletic Trainer position at Rice University. Allen maintained that position until 2006. He was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Medical Services during his tenure.
After his departure from Rice, Allen handled PRN coverage for local middle schools, high schools, and spent seven years at Emery Weiner School as part-time staff.
From 1972 – 1997 Allen Eggert served as the Executive Secretary for Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, appointed by Logan Wood, Board Chairman. Described by Mr. Eggert as the “Stephen F. Austin of Athletic Training”. He described position as challenging and rewarding.
Allen Eggert was mentored by true giants of the profession, Bobby Brown and Eddie Wojecki. This allowed him to become a giant in his own right. We honor his distinctive contributions today.
Brian Farr
Brian Farr served on the TSATA Board of Directors as the Region 8 Director from 2010-16. While on the Board, he served as the Secretary-Treasurer (2011-15), the Texas State Representative to the SWATA Executive Board (2014-16), and the Texas State Representative to the NATA State Association Advisory Committee (2011-16). Farr was also a member of the TSATA’s Apprentice Program Endorsement Committee, the Task Force on Licensure Reform, the Budget Committee and the Website Committee.
Prior to his positions at UT, Farr spent three years as the Assistant Coordinator of Sports Medicine and an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University; one year as the head athletic trainer for the Columbus Chill, a minor league, professional ice hockey team; one season as the assistant athletic trainer with the World League of American Football’s (NFL Europe) Scottish Claymores; and an athletic training fellow at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. Farr was named to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sports Medicine Staff for the 2011 and 2019 Para Pan-Am Games. He also served as the team athletic trainer with USA Sitting Volleyball for several international and national events and training camps.
Farr earned his bachelor of science degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science from Michigan State University in 1993. He completed a two-year graduate assistantship and his master of arts degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from The Ohio State University in 1996.
In addition to serving with the TSATA, his professional involvement includes:
NATA Executive Committee on Education
NATA Board of Athletic Training Specialties
NATA Comprehensive Internationalization Self-study Task Force
NATA International Conference Group
NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award Committee
BOC Specialty Certification Council
BOC Exam Development Committee
BOC Home Study Continuing Education Program
CAATE Site Visitor and Peer Reviewer
SWATA Executive Board
SWATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Selection Committee
SWATA Annual Symposium Education Program Planning Committee
SWATA Public Relations Committee
SWATA Student Research and Education Committee
Annette Franco
Annette was born and raised in Monahans, Texas. After graduating from Monahans High School, she attended Tarleton State University where earning a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Sports Studies with a minor in Biology as well as a teaching certificate graduating in 1992. In 1994, Ms. Franco obtained a Masters degree in Education from Tarleton State University.
After graduation in 1994, Annette became the Athletic Trainer at Abilene Cooper High School, a position that she held for 25 years. In 2019, she became the first Sports Medicine Coordinator for the Abilene Independent School District and is still in this position currently.
She has been a member of N.A.T.A. and S.W.A.T.A. for 34 years and a member of T.S.A.T.A. for 20 years. Annette received The Everett Blackburn Memorial Award in 2003 from the Ft. Davis Sports Medicine Clinic and was a speaker at the Davis Mountains Sports Medicine Clinic in 2004. She served on the S.W.A.T.A. Honors and Awards Committee Chaired by Everett Blackburn and was the T.S.A.T.A. Spotlight recipient for Region 2 in December 2020. She also enjoys mentoring Athletic Training students from different University programs as well as teaching High School students and anyone who wants to learn anything about Athletic Training. She continues to promote the athletic training profession by helping everyone she can and showing them what it is to be an Athletic Trainer.
She is a Dog Mom to Tempe 12 and Addie 10 and I consider all of my students “my kids”. Annette has helped raise nieces, nephews, athletes, coaches kids and even coaches…basically anyone who allow me to be a part of their “village”.
Dan Fuller
Dan “Red” Fuller is the Head Athletic Trainer/Director of Sports Medicine Outreach for Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital in Tyler Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from
David Gish
David M. Gish joined Texas State University in January 1990, after having worked at San Marcos High School where he was the Rattler’s Athletic Trainer for four years. He also worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette for two years. He began his athletic training career under the tutelage of Dennis Hart at North Mesquite High School where he taped his first ankle in 1976 as a freshman in high school, and his passion grew from there. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Texas in 1984 and completed a master’s degree in 1990 from Southwest Texas State University, now known as Texas State University. In his role as Head Athletic Trainer for the Athletic Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, David led a Texas State University athletic training staff that included four full-time assistants and nine graduate assistant athletic trainers. He was employed at Texas State for 24 years. David was a professor and preceptor for the Athletic Training Program. A certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and licensed athletic trainer in the State of Texas, he received the service award from the NATA in 2010. In 2014, he was the recipient of the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (SWATA) Eddie Wojecki Award. He served as vice president on the Executive Board of the SWATA in 2012-2013. In 2014, David also functioned as SWATA president, obtaining immeasurable accomplishments in a short period. That same year, he was inducted into the Alamo Area Athletic Trainers’ Association (AAATA) Hall of Fame and had been a past president of AAATA as well. David was inducted in the SWATA Hall of Fame in 2015.
John Overton
John Overton was born in Big Spring, Texas. He graduated high school from Coahoma High in 1990, where he was coached by Kim Nichols. He began his college career at Howard College under the late Everett Blackburn, where he received his associates in science degree. He then attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science. John received his Texas Athletic Trainers License in 1996. Overton then continued his academic and athletic training career at Tarleton State University as a graduate assistant, under Dr. Steve Simpson, where he received his Master’s in Education degree.
John began his professional career at Boswell High School in 1997, where he served as the Head Athletic Trainer until his departure in 2003. Boswell is where he received the nickname “Doc” from his head coach and athletic director, Charlie Hesse. Overton became the fourth Head Athletic Trainer at Howard College in 2003, where after 19 years he is still holding that position. He has covered Coahoma High School athletics, as a volunteer athletic trainer since his arrival at Howard College. This opportunity allowed him to work side by side with Coach Kim Nichols. However, his outreach was not just limited to Coahoma, he cares for all schools in the Howard County area. During his time at Howard College, Overton has Co-founded the Everett Blackburn Rockin’ Rodeo Sports Medicine Clinic in 2008 with Antoinette VanDePutte and the late Travis Gray. This clinic is free and honors athletic trainers. There are four awards given each year which include The Dustin Lira Memorial Brown Hat award, The Dave Lammers award, The Jim Campbell Earned Spurs award, and The Everett Blackburn Buckle. In 2009, John won his first National Championship in Baseball, with a record shattering team that went 63-1 on the season ending with a national championship. This is the best record in the history of Baseball earning Howard College a spot in the baseball hall of fame. In 2010, Overton won his second National Championship with the Men’s Basketball team and in that same year Howard College Rodeo produced an all-around National Champion Cowboy. Earning Overton his third ring in a two-year span. Overton is proud of establishing the Howard College I AM SECOND group in 2011, to give athletes a place to grow in their faith. In 2019, Overton and Steward Orthopedic Group revived a long-standing free sports medicine clinic. This clinic provides free orthopedic care for local athletes, who might not be able to afford such care.
John served on the board of directors for the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association (TSATA) from 2014-2020. He is a long-time member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), and the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association (SWATA).
Throughout Overton’s career, he has received many awards including: Everett Blackburn Outstanding Athletic Trainer award from the Davis Mountains Sports Clinic in 2009, 2 times voted Educator of the Year at Howard College 2013-14 and 2015-16, the Truman Spoon Exemplary Service Award at the Davis Mountains Sports Medicine Clinic in 2013, and the Dustin Lira Memorial Brown Hat Award in 2020.
However, if you asked John what his greatest accomplishment would be he would tell you it was his beautiful family that God has blessed him with. John has been married to his loving wife Amy for 25 years. During that time, they have raised two beautiful daughters, MaKayla Overton and MaKynlee Overton. With the support of his encouraging parents and family, he has been able to work in a profession he truly loves.
Lee Reynolds
Lee is a proud graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. He received his BS degree in 1979 and his Master’s degree in 1983.
He began his athletic training career at Pine Tree High School in Longview, TX in 1980 where he worked until 1989. He then worked sports medicine outreach through a local hospital and physical therapy clinic until 2000 at which time he joined the staff of Longview ISD. He remained with the Longview Lobos until retirement in 2015.
Before retirement, Lee was both state licensed and proudly held his NATA certification. He was a member of the East Texas Athletic Trainers Association as well as TSATA, SWATA and the NATA.
In 1998 Lee was awarded a short summer internship at the US Olympic Center in San Diego, CA. Though for only a few weeks, it was a great pleasure to work with several athletes that became future Olympians. In 2009 he was awarded the honor of Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association and in 2015 was awarded the ETATA Sandy Miller award.
Most important of all, Lee relishes the relationships formed with colleagues, coaches and student athletes. And when paths cross again, he enjoys visiting and reminiscing. Many of the athletes went on to become college and professional athletes, and he enjoys following their careers. But most of all, he enjoys the daily relationships formed with student athletes, hopefully making a difference in their lives.
Bain Ward
Bain Ward obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Biology from Sul Ross State University in 1965. He earned a teaching certificate in 1966. He became a Certified Athletic Trainer in 1970. Mr. Ward obtained his Texas State License in 1974. #187.
Bain was employed by Plainview HS from 1966-1968. Dallas ISD from 1968-1969. Odessa High School from 1969-1972. He worked with Athletic Supply from 1972-1978, Sharp Drilling Company from 1979-1988, and Fas-Line Sales from 1988-1990. He completed his Athletic Training career with Midland ISD from 1992-2012.
Bill Wissen
Bill Wissen spend 29 years as the Athletic Trainer at Alief Hastings High School in Houston, TX. Upon retirement, Bill became the athletic training manager at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, and spent a little over 10 years in that position.
