2021 Hall of Honor
Congratulations to our 2021 Inductees!
Mike Carroll
Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1990 and his Master of Education from the University of Virginia in 1992. Mike has been very active in many athletic training professional organizations for close to a quarter of a century. He has served in leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. In addition to that he has served in volunteer and elected positions with the NATA, SWATA TSATA and BOC as well as other organizations dedicated to health and safety in athletics. He was the SWATA President in 2009 - 2010. In the summer of 2016 Mike was inducted into the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame. Mike was awarded the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award by the NATA and also by SWATA in 2012, the Athletic Trainer Service Award by the NATA in 2008 and the Eddie Wojecki and Bobby Gunn Unsung Hero Awards in 2005 by the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association for his work with the Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee. Mike was also named the Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year for Texas and Arkansas by Gatorade in 2019. Mike is a member of the Medical and Science Advisory Board of the Korey Stringer Institute which is active nationally to help educate on the topic of heat illness and sudden death in sport. Because of his work in this area he was awarded the Lifesaver Service Award by the National Football League in 2012 as well. He is currently an Athletic Trainer Director for the Board of Certification. He has worked in the secondary school setting for a majority of his three plus decades in this profession. He is currently the Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director at Graham High School. Mike and his wife DeNae have two children (Nolan and DeLaney) and they have hosted seven foreign exchange students from five different countries.
Dawn Hearn
Dawn Hearn hales from Centerville, Iowa, where she was a three-sport athlete at Centerville High School; excelling in softball as a three-time first team all-conference third baseman. She earned her Bachelor's degree in physical education, with minors in athletic training and coaching from Iowa State University.After becoming certified in 1986, she attended Graduate School at The Ohio University, where her graduate assistantship consisted of covering Jackson High School athletics. She completed her Masters of science degree in physical education with an emphasis in Athletic Training in June 1987 before going on to spend two summers with the US Volleyball Association.
Dawn is in her 34th year at UTEP. She began her tenure in the fall of 1988 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, and was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in April of 1995. At that time, she was only the third female to be a Head Athletic Trainer of an FBS Athletic Training Program, and the second in charge of football. She supervises 9 full-time assistants and approximately 20 student aides at UTEP. She has had about 75 students graduate under her supervision who are now working as athletic trainers. In April 2008, Hearn was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame and in March 2014, she was inducted into the Sun City Athletic Trainer’s Hall of Fame, for her many years of service to the University and the El Paso Community.
Other awards Hearn has received:
Host Athletic Trainer for Sun Bowl Games
2003-04 Plaque of Appreciation from El Paso Community College
2004 Everett Blackburn Memorial Award
2007-10 Medical Coordinator for Texas vs The Nation (College FB All-Star Game)
Certificate of Appreciation from Ft. Bliss—numerous times
2017 T-Spoon Award
2017 El Paso Hometown Heroes Presented by Allstate
Hearn loves spending time during the summer months at Elephant Butte Lake on her boat with her two dogs (her kids), fishing.
Billy Ray Laxton
Billy Ray is a proud graduate of Texas Tech University (1989) with a degree in Physical Education and later obtained a Master's degree (2000) from University of Texas, Tyler.
Billy Ray Laxton was named Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine in July, 2019. He joined the Athletic Training staff as the Head Athletic Trainer in May, 2018.
"We are excited to have Billy Ray join our athletic administration staff," (then) Athletic Director, Bobby Mesker said, "The experience of 30 plus years that he brings to our department shows the commitment the University has in caring for our student-athletes and we are thrilled to have him as an Associate AD."
Laxton served as outreach coordinator at Scott and White Hospital in Temple (2011 to 2018). Prior to Scott and White, he served as head Athletic Trainer and assistant professor at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor where the football program became known as the ring-bearers of Division III football.
Before to his arrival at Belton, Laxton worked in the clinical setting (Lubbock Sports Rehab - 1989-1990) and the high school setting (John Tyler 1990-2001). While at John Tyler, the Lions won a football state championship in 1994 and a state appearance in 2000.
His other athletic training experiences include professional rodeo, Justin Healer Sports Medicine Team and the 1996 Olympics, as the Chief Athletic Trainer-Willis Park. Laxton has served on several committees/boards including the East Texas Athletic Trainers Association, Southwest Athletic Trainers Association and Texas State Athletic Trainers Association. For the TSATA, Billy Ray has been on the board twice – once from two different regions – has served as the Chair. He is also a committee member of the Ethics Committee of the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Since becoming a resident of Alpine, Billy Ray has served on the Alpine ISD School board, Member place 3 and has re-started the Apprenticeship program at Sul Ross State University with its first graduate this past May.
He and his wife Joanna have two sons, Sam and John. Billy’s genuine love for Athletic Training, TSATA, and his fellow man is extraordinary.
Manny Pacillas Jr.
Manny Pacillas Jr. achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Texas Western University – now The University of Texas at El Paso in 1956. He interned in athletic training with giants of the profession Ross Moos (TWC) and Elmer Brown (TCU). Manny began his career at El Paso Jefferson HS teaching a plethora of classes among them Science, Health, World History, and many more. He was appointed Chairman of History and Government. He was Head JV Football and Assistant Varsity Football. Manny was one of the first coaches to start a Wrestling program in El Paso and in the state of Texas in 1963. In that same year, he assumed Athletic Training duties for all sports. In 1973 he accepted the Athletic Trainer position at El Paso Burgess. As positon he maintained until 1992. He taught Health and developed a science-based Health curriculum adopted by EPISD and remains the basis of Health instruction. In 1992 Manny became an Athletic Trainer and consultant for Columbia Health Care. Manny was a founding member of the El Paso Chapter of the NATA, later Sun City Athletic Trainers’ Association. He served as President in 1980-81. He was a founding member of SWATA. He was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame – 1995 as an Athletic Trainer, El Paso Hall of Fame – 1999 as an athlete, Sun City Hall of Fame – 2003, and El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame – 2009.
Mike Sims
Mike Sims LAT, ATC born and raised in Cedar Hill, Texas, Sims served as a student trainer at Cedar Hill High School, where he graduated in 1975. He then spent five years as a Baylor student trainer and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 and his master’s degree two years later.
Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer, Sims became Baylor’s first full-time Assistant Athletic Trainer in 1981. He served three years in that position before becoming BU’s Head Athletic Trainer in December 1984. Sims was promoted to Director of Sports Medicine in 1993 then Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training in 2006 and Associate Director for Athletic Training in 2015 before joining Southwest Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics in July of 2017 as the Manager of Sports Medicine.
Mike Sims is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on sports equipment safety standards and recently inductee in the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, Baylor “B” Association Hall of Fame, Baylor Line Foundation Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service and soon to be inducted into his High School Hall of Fame.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) for over 30 years, Sims helps determine safety standards for equipment such as football and baseball helmets and catcher’s masks. He served 16 years on the NATA Ethics Committee including seven years as the committee chair.
Sims received the 2006 Dave Campbell Award from the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and the 2007 NATA Service Award. He was president of the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association from 1991-92. Sims earned the 2013 Southwest Athletic Trainers Association’s Most Distinguished Award. He was also awarded the Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp Trophy at the 2012 Holiday Bowl for his unselfish commitment, motivation and teamwork. Sims is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Woodway.
Ed Sunderland
Ed Sunderland graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1978, He achieved a Masters of Science from the University of Arizona in 1979.
Ed Sunderland joined the faculty of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in 2007. Previous to this, he served as a faculty member and director of the Athletic Training Education Program at Texas A&M University-Commerce from 2001-07. Before that, he was the head athletic trainer and instructor at East Texas State University for 16 years. He also served as head athletic trainer at New Mexico State University for four years and Odessa Junior College for two years. He has been a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) since 1978.
Cathy Supak
Cathy Poerner Supak, LAT, AT Ret., served as an outreach athletic trainer from Houston Methodist Hospital Orthopedics & Sports Medicine-Clear Lake to Clear Brook High School and Pasadena ISD for 27 years of a 35-year career. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas State University in 1984. In 1999, Cathy received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in Athletic Training. In addition, Cathy was awarded the Certificate of Merit, the highest honor given by the American Red Cross for saving a life. Cathy retired in July 2019.
Cathy has been involved in athletic training professional organizations for four decades. Her leadership by elected or appointed positions extended from the local, state and national levels. These include the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society (GHATS), the Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association (TSATA), the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (SWATA), and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) as well as serving on the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Training. She has been a frequent speaker and featured in national publications on various life balancing topics. She currently serves on the Women’s Advisory Board for Houston Methodist Hospital-Clear Lake.
Cathy was elected as the first female president for GHATS in 1998. She has been honored with the Bobby Gunn Award, the Logan Wood Award for Meritorious Service and was inducted into the inaugural GHATS Athletic Training Hall of Honor.
Cathy was one of the founding members of the TSATA in 2001. She was elected to the Board of Directors and served as the first female Board Chair. During her term as Board Chair, TSATA launched the Academic All State Award.
She has been a longtime member of SWATA. Cathy has served as the Student Association President, and chaired the Women in Athletic Training committee. She has received the Ross Moore Award for Leadership, the SWATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award, and in 2015 she was inducted in the SWATA Hall of Fame.
Cathy also has been an active member of the NATA since 1981, serving on the Women in Athletic Training and Honors & Awards committees. In addition, she assisted the Host Committee for three Texas based NATA annual membership meetings. In 2004, she received the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award.
In 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Cathy to the State of Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers. She served as a board member and Vice-Chair during her term.
Cathy and her husband Ray have two adult children, Amanda and Cameron.
Bucky Taylor
Bucky Taylor is a 47-year veteran of athletic training. He served as Head Athletic Trainer at Mesquite High School for 36 years. He currently serves as the District Athletic Trainer for the Mesquite Independent School District, and an athletic training consultant to the Sports Medicine Clinic of North Texas in Dallas and the Texas Sports Concussion Partnership. Bucky authored or co-authored several athletic safety policies utilized by Mesquite ISD Athletics. His research on concussion/mTBI and the development of the Mesquite ISD return to play policy for athletes was featured on Dan Rather Reports in February and August of 2010. During the 2011 Texas Legislative session, he was a part of the Legislative Task Force that drafted and helped pass HB 2038, “Natasha’s Law”.
HB 2038 is the Concussion Law for the State of Texas. Recently, he has worked as a Football Medical Officer for the Big 12. Bucky is a respected speaker who has given presentations to both regional and national organizations. He served as president of the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association in 2002 and 2003, and his many professional honors and awards include: National Athletic Trainers Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (2000), Texas High School Coaches Association Athletic Trainer of the Year (2000), Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame (2003), Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Frank Medina Award (2010), the National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award (2018), and the Mesquite ISD Athletic Hall of Honor (2019), Texas State Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Honor (2021).
