Spear Receives Athletic Trainers Association Recognition Award
Dr. Merritt Spear, director of sports medicine and member of the Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame, received the New York State Athletic Trainers Association Kent Scribner Recognition Award at the July NYSATA annual meeting in New York City.
The Kent Scribner Recognition Award is an executive counsel-nominated award to those individuals or groups deserving of recognition for acts, promotion, support of and/or service that positively reflects the goals and mission of the association and athletic training within New York state.
Spear, who has been with the college since 1976 when he was director of student health services, is also the recipient of the 2006 David G. Moyer Award from the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association.
“I have spent many years trying to positively support the tremendous job the trainers do in keeping our athletes safe and healthy,” Spear said. “To be recognized by them is a great personal reward, especially being in the company of some thoroughbreds.”
Spear has also been active and instrumental in the Empire State Games, directing the sports medicine division since its inception in 1978. He retired from the games in 2010.
"It was a fantastic experience working with thousands of elite New York state athletes and hundreds of athletic trainers and MDs,” he said.