2023 Hall of Honor

Congratulations to our 2023 Inductees!

Cash Birdwell

Cash was born in Oklahoma City, on November 17, 1940 to Henry and Mary Birdwell. From Jones High School in Houston, Cash attended and graduated from the University of Houston in 1964. He received his Masters in liberal Arts while employed at SMU.

Following college, Cash began his athletic training career at Garland High School, where he worked until he was drafted into the Army in 1966. At Ft Polk, he was told by his CO to get his street clothes on and head by bus to West Point, NY, as an Athletic Trainer for the Army athletic department. At West Point, Cash worked for basketball coach Bob Knight and team captain Mike Krzyewski. Cash also worked with the Army football team and got to know their assistant coach Bill Parcells. As Coach Parcells once said, "Anybody who can work for Knight for a couple of years deserves a medal."

After the army, Cash served as Athletic Trainer for the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Rams where he made an appearance as an Athletic Trainer in the 1970 Pro Bowl. He served the SMU Mustang student-athletes for over 30 years, working on the Hilltop in 1968 and from 1973-2006.

Several impressionable "Cash expectations” for student trainers and athletes were always be early to work or rehab in the training room, always be early to board the bus for a team football trip, and always take off your shoes before entering the training room. For Cash, if you were on time, you were late.

While serving on the NATA Board of Directors, Cash worked as the Vice-President from 1978-1979.  

Cash became an SMU Honorary Letterman (2005); he was inducted into the SMU Hall of Fame (2013), the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame (1990), as well as the Southwest Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame (1986). Cash served as an Athletic Trainer for the College Football All-Star Japan Bowl Games (1980-1993) and was National College Athletic Trainer of the Year (1978).  Cash was a two-time recipient of the Eddie Wojecki Award, 1973, 1988.  He received the Frank Medina Award in 1985.  

After retirement from SMU, Cash worked part-time for the Dallas Mavericks and the annual Cotton Bowl game. Up until two months before his passing, Cash continued to work as an athletic trainer for local community colleges and youth sporting events.

In addition to his professional life, Cash enjoyed family, church life and his civic duty. He and his wife Lou Beth, made several trips to NY City at Christmas time to enjoy the holiday lights and Broadway musicals. They loved river cruises on the Danube and Rhine Rivers, golf in Scotland, and sightseeing in London. Their favorite family vacation was to the Mayan Ranch in Bandera, Texas.

Cash served as a deacon at First Baptist Church, Garland and loved his Sunday School class and the friends he had there. He always looked forward to Sunday lunches with the Lunch Bunch. Cash also gave of his time as a Garland ISD School Board member, 1980-1986.

Cash enjoyed attending SMU football and basketball games, hunting, playing golf, going to movies, watching his favorite black and white TV shows, and napping.

Mark "Buzz" Chisum

Mark “Buzz” Chisum, a graduate of Brownfield High School in 1997, began his path to higher education at Odessa College.  He then matriculated to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, completing his Bachelor of Science in 1982.  Mark acquired a Masters of Education from Sul Ross State University in 1995.

Chisum made several stops in his Athletic Training journey, starting at Seminole HS in 1982.  He worked at McCamey HS in 1984 and Corpus Christi Carroll HS 1987-1989.  Starting in 1980, Mark had an opportunity to work NFL Training Camp with the Houston Oilers.  He worked the Oilers Training Camp each summer until 1987.  In 1990, he was hired at Angelo Sports Medicine, remaining there for one year.  He then moved to South Plains College in Levelland for five years before starting his 20-year tenure at Texas Tech University.  Since his retirement from Texas Tech University, Chisum has been a successful regional sales representative for Alert Services Sports Medicine.

Chisum was elected Region Three Director for the Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2010, serving until 2014.  He served on the UIL Medical Advisory Board for two years starting in 2014.  

Larry Gardner

Larry was born July 28, 1939, in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Wilbur James Gardner and Fredricka Oden Gardner, lifelong residents of Sulphur, Louisiana. Following his graduation from Sulphur High School, he attended college at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he received a degree in Biology and then went on to the Hermann Hospital School of Physical Therapy in Houston, Texas, receiving his degree in Physical Therapy. His career in athletic training and physical therapy began with positions at the University of California at Berkeley where he also worked as an assistant trainer for the Oakland Raiders franchise, the United States Army at Brooks Army Hospital, and Stanford University at Palo Alto as the head football trainer. He continued his career as an athletic trainer for the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins, participating in Conference Championships and Super Bowls with both franchises. He served as the President of the NFL Professional Trainers for several years. He worked in professional rodeo for the Justin Sports Medicine Program, attending the National Finals Rodeo for many years along with the Circuit Finals Rodeo, car racing with CART, traveled the world with the United States Gymnastics Federation working as the Director of the Mizuno Athletic Training Center at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in Korea, and was an athletic trainer for the World Cup Soccer team. He held the position of the adjunct faculty member with the school of Physical Therapy at Texas Women’s University, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, now Texas State University, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and the University of Oklahoma. He then moved into the clinical side of physical therapy holding positions with the Sports Medicine Clinic of North Texas and the Tom Landry Sports Medicine and Research Center in Dallas, Texas. 

During his outstanding career, Larry held numerous Directorships and Honorary faculty positions. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Professional Football Trainers Society (PFATS) and the Distinguished Service Trainer Award by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. He was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, the McNeese State University Hall of Fame, and The University of Texas at Dallas Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Over his career, he authored many articles, papers, books, worked with the Hydro-Fitness Corporation to develop several machines to assist those with rehabilitation, and developed a Sure Step Ankle Brace with Joint Solutions, Inc. 

Larry returned to athletic training and physical therapy, at the collegiate level, working as the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer for The University of Texas at Dallas. He traveled to many sporting events and treated many student-athletes over his years at UTD. He received honors for being an outstanding athletic trainer and physical therapist. He retired from UTD in December of 2009. After retiring, he continued his passion for working with athletes and sports by volunteering his time with the Collinsville High School, six-man, football team for several seasons.

Cathy Gilberto

Cathy Gilberto has been an athletic trainer in the Rio Grande Valley for 36 years. She came to the RGV from graduated school at Indiana State University where she did her masters work under Dr. Kenneth Knight , and Dr. Bob Benke.

Cathy was the first female athletic trainer in the valley. From 1981-1989 she was at Harlingen High School and from 1989-2017 she worked at San Benito High School.

Cathy covered all sports at both schools over her career and even had the opportunity to meek Tony  Hawk while working the X-Games on South Padre Island in 2009. In 1980 she covered the “First International Women’s Judo Tournament” in New York City.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Cathy now lives in Harlingen Texas. Cathy has developed a curriculum for student training and has had the longest running student trainer program in the Rio Grande Valley. Over the last 36 years more than 325 student trainers have graduated from her program. Many have gone onto careers in athletic training at the high school and college levels. Others have gone into nursing, physical therapy and other related health fields.

Cathy retired from athletic training in 2017. She is still living in Harlingen with her partner and is enjoying the retired life. She enjoys fishing and the ability to sleep late and to go on vacations whenever she wants, not only on school holidays!   

Gordon Graham

Gordon Graham was raised in Richardson, Texas where he attended Berkner High School.  After graduation, he enrolled at Richland College.  Gordon transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University, completing a Bachelor of Science in 1978 and a Masters of Secondary Education in 1981.  

Gordon was the Head Athletic Trainer at Berkner High School for one year, leaving for Tomball High School in 1981.  He was the Head Athletic Trainer at Tomball until retirement in 2018.  

Gordon worked the Texas High School All-Star Game in 1986.  He was awarded the GHATS Bobby Gunn Award in 1999. Gordon was a member of the GHATS Advisory Council from 1998-2002, serving as President from 2002-2004. He received the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award in 2006.  Gordon was presented the SWATA Bobby Gunn Unsung Hero Award and the Joe Richardson Distinguished Alumni Award from SFA in 2007.  The Greater Houston Football Coaches Association bestowed Athletic Trainer of the Year honors in 2012.  He was awarded the Logan Wood Award and inducted into the GHATS Hall of Honor in 2014.  

Gordon retired after 38 years as a professional high school Athletic Trainer.  He was married to the love of his life Laura for 34 before her death in 2014. Gordon is the proud parent of two children.  Lindsey Quinn who has two children of her own and Steve who passed away in 2020.  Gordon and his wife attended Champion Forest Baptist Church, which they joined in 1982. Gordon gives Glory to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his profession abd helping him through some very tough spots in his life.  He is currently serving in the Grief Share Ministry to help others who have had family losses. 

Sue Lowry

With Title IX allowing Girls Sports to be a part of UlL, Waco I.S.D Athletic Dept. hired one Certified Athletic Trainer to care for four high schools and seven middle schools. The old Waco High School Field House became the CENTRAL TRAINING ROOM for the entire district.

The WISD Athletic Dept. soon discovered the overload for Athletic Trainer John Barnett.  Also, that there needed to be an adult female teacher to assist with the girls injuries for obvious reasons.

Sue was teaching/coaching at Richfield High School and expressed an interest in helping out in the afternoons at the Central Training Room. She taught classes at the high school until 2:30pm then drove to the Central Training Room to assist the Athletic Trainer and athletes for four additional hours.

Sue wished to be licensed.  The Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers was contacted to inquire about sitting for the State licensing Exam.  For five years Sue was declined until the Board decided to let her do a two year apprenticeship with Athletic Trainer Skip Cox, Head Athletic Trainer at Baylor University, with the approval of Head Coach Grant Teaff.  After completion, she was elligible to take the State licensing Exam.

For two years (1979/80 and 1980/81) Sue taught classes at Richfield High School , assisted at the Central Training Room until 4pm and then drove out to Baylor University Athletic facility. Duties were four hours a night supervised by Athletic Trainer Skip Cox and Senior Athletic Trainer Mike Simms.

As a side note, the team won the conference and the Bears played in the Cotton Bowl.

After completion of the apprenticeship, Sue was allowed to take the State licensing Exam, given at Rice University.

After becoming licensed, she was hired as the first female licensed Athletic Trainer for Waco ISD. Sue also established a course of study at Waco High School for Co-Ed student athletic training. Sue retired after 41 years of service for Waco ISD.

As a member of National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Sue was awarded a 25-year pin, after retirement.

Frank Parker

Frank (Parker) has been a licensed since May of 1992 for 31 years. Parker graduated from Angelo State University with BS in Kinesiology with minors in Biology and History. He was part of the student athletic trainer program under Randy Matthews. He became the first Athletic Trainer at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Texas in 1992. He obtained his ATC in 1995 and became a graduate assistant at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri working with Dr. Ron VanDam. After obtaining a Master in Exercise Science and Sport Medicine, he moved back to Texas and has been the Athletic Trainer for the Calhoun Fighting Sandcrabs in Port Lavaca, Texas for last 26 years.  He is also very active in advocacy for athletic training in the Coastal Bend Area.  Parker is a mentor for many local athletic trainers in the area. He currently serves on the board for the Crossroads Athletic Trainer Society and is the Region 9 representative for Texas State Athletic Trainer Association. Parker has been on staff with Justin Sports Medicine for 20 years, and served on medical staff of 7 on 7 State Championships.  Parker is married to his wife of 34 years Beverly Parker and has 2 kids, Greyson and Remi.  

Lorna Strong

Lorna Strong began her athletic training journey as a high school student finding it blended two interests, healthcare and sport. Her academic preparations secured her career passion to athletic training and athletic training education; she earned a BA in Human Performance Health Science emphasis in Sports Medicine from Rice University, MS in Kinesiology from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), and EdD in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.  Her career has included positions as a clinical athletic trainer in Houston, the first full-time head athletic trainer at the UCA, Athletic Training Program Director at UCA and West Texas A&M University (WTAMU), and Sports and Exercise Sciences Department Head at WTAMU.

Lorna is involved within her profession as an athletic trainer at the local, state, district, and national levels.  Her leadership experiences include roles with the Panhandle Sports Medicine Society, Texas State Athletic Trainers Association, the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association (SWATA), National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), and the Board of Certification. Professional honors include induction into the SWATA Hall of Fame, SWATA Eddie Wojecki Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer, SWATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer, SWATA Bobby Gunn Unsung Hero Award, NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award, and Top of Texas Athletic Trainer of the Year.  She has provided multiple athletic training specific presentations over the years and has been involved in research collaborations leading to publication.

Lorna enjoys assisting in the professional preparation and mentorship of athletic trainers for future roles in a variety of healthcare settings and leadership activities.  Of all Lorna’s positions and activities, her most valued role is that of mom to Luke, his wife Darci (also an athletic trainer), and Samuel; she supports their activities as they have supported her in her many roles. Lorna is humbled by her selection for the 2023 TSATA Hall of Honor. 

Joshua Barrett Yellen

Dr. Josh Yellen proudly served the Athletic Training community for over two decades. While attending Santa Barbara City College, Josh was awarded “Student Trainer of the Year” (1995-1996). He went on to serve as President of the Athletic Training Club at California State University, Northridge prior to earning a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Athletic Training in 1999. That same year he received the “Hold the Rope Award” in Athletic Training by the CSUN Women’s Softball team. Josh served as an Athletic Trainer for the United States Olympic Trials in Swimming and the Los Angeles Unified School District Division of Sports Medicine, before completing his graduate degree at California State University, Long Beach. He forged his own path at CSULB as a Graduate Assistant, Instructor, Approved Clinical Instructor, and Clinical Site Evaluator. His thesis was entitled, “An Assessment of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Board of Certification, District 8 Certified Athletic Trainer’s Clinical Knowledge in the Intervention of Disordered Eating.” He completed a Master of Arts in Kinesiology, Individualized Program in 2004 from CSULB and was recognized for his dedication and work ethic as a graduate student in Athletic Training. Josh later went on to serve as Program Director, Clinical Coordinator, and Instructor for the CAATE accredited Athletic Training Education Program at Southeastern Louisiana University while completing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (2012). His dissertation was entitled, “Leadership Behaviors of Program Directors in Athletic Training Education.” During his tenure in Louisiana, Josh provided athletic training outreach and student mentorship through his affiliation with AAU Junior Olympics and North Oaks Health Systems. At SELU, Josh earned the Faculty Support Award (multiple years) and the Special Recognition Award for Noteworthy Leadership (2009). In 2013, Josh became the Founding Director of the CAATE Accredited Master of Athletic Training Program within the Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Houston. In 2022, Josh received a unanimous recommendation for promotion to Clinical Associate Professor as a result of his contributions in the areas of administration, teaching, research, and service. Josh was proud of building a dynamic UH/MAT graduate program where students had access to over 23 affiliations within the Greater Houston area and consistently outperformed the national average on the BOC exam. As a part of his role at the University of Houston, Josh served as the Athletic Training Consultant for the Astronaut Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation (ASCR) program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Additionally, he remained active in clinical practice and provided service for community events in which his students could participate and stretch their own experience and skills, such as the Houston Marathon and Ironman Texas. Throughout his career, Josh was active on committees, through presentations, and affiliation with professional and community organizations, including TSATA, SWATA, GHATS, NATA, and CAATE.  In addition to being fiercely dedicated to the field of athletic training and his students, Josh was unwavering in his loyalty and devotion to his wife, Jessica, and two children, Mathew and Rebekah.