The ‘49 Club

The Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA) ’49 Club is a district-based award. It recognizes those District One and District Two members whose district, state and EATA contributions demonstrate sustained service and leadership and reflect positively on their home district, state and the EATA. The work of these individuals shape and advance the profession of Athletic Training as a result of their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to sustained service and leadership in their district, state and the EATA. The ’49 Club is considered the highest honor a District One or District Two member can achieve and is equivalent to a District Hall of Fame recognition.

Candidates for the EATA ’49 Club must be nominated by a District One or District Two member in good standing and must meet the following criteria to be eligible for consideration.

Candidate Qualifications


Qualified candidates for the EATA ’49 Club must

  1. Be an active, retired or deceased member from either District 1 or District 2.

  2. Possess an NPI number (if active).

  3. Possess an active or retired BOC credential.

  4. Have been a BOC athletic trainer a minimum of 25 years.

  5. Be, or have been, a member of District 1 or District 2, or a combination of both for a minimum of 15 years preceding the nomination. 

Please Note: Deceased District 1 or District 2 members not meeting the 25 years qualification may be considered for induction into the EATA ’49 Club if their work brought distinction to District 1 and/or District 2.

The Nomination Window is now CLOSED.

A member of the ‘49 Club Committee will communicate with potential inductees follow name submission.

Nominations are open from July 1st through September 15th

Class of 2023

2017: Inaugural Class

2018: Link to class list
2019: John Moyer, James Thornton
2020: Thomas Kaminski, Linda Meyer (Class videos)
2021: No Award Given
2022: AJ Duffy III, Robb Rehberg (Class video) 2023: Don Bagnall, Larry Cooper, Neil Curtis, Julie Ramsey-Emrhein, Greg Janik

Don Bagnall

Neil Curtis

Julie Ramsey-Emrhein

Larry Cooper

Greg Janik

EATA ‘49 Club

Past Recipients

Nominate a Colleague for the ‘49 Club

Please review the candidate criteria prior to submitting your nomination. A member of the ‘49 Club Committee will communicate instructions for the application process following the form submission below.