The Eddie Wojecki Award

This award is given annually to an athletic trainer who has made outstanding contributions to the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association within the past two years. The nominee's for this award are selected by a committee of the three previous Wojecki Award recipients'. Nominee's names are then put on the mail out ballot and voted on by the membership. The recipient is announced at the annual SWATA Awards Banquet.

Past Award Recipients:
1968	Logan Wood	1988	Pete Carlon	2008	David Weir
1969	James Dodson	1989	Cash Birdwell
1970	Gibb Weaver	1990	Paul Zeek
1971	Tom Wilson	1991	Rick Davis
1972	Paul Zeek	1992	Everett Blackburn
1973	Billy Pickard	1993	Randy Matthews
1974	Skip Cox	1994	Cash Birdwell
1975	James Ketchum	1995	Larry Gardner
1976	Wayne Rideout	1996	Pete Carlon
1977	Tom Wilson	1997	Spanky Stephens
1978	Cash Birdwell	1998	Arnold Thomas
1979	John Barnett	1999	Dennis Hart
1980	Al Wilson	2000	Robert Maniscalco
1981	T. Ross Bailey	2001	Tom Woods
1982	Allen Eggert	2002	Doug Gibbins
1983	Charlie Henry	2003	Brian Conway
1984	Spanky Stephens	2004	Melinda Terry
1985	Bernie LaReau	2005	Mike Carroll
1986	Ken Murray	2006	Sandy Miller
1987	Ken Locker	2007	Mitzi Laughlin

Edward J. (Eddie) Wojecki, SWATA Charter Member

Outstanding Contributions to SWATA and NATA: Born January 1, 1911 in Erie Pennsylvania, Eddie Wojecki became one of the preeminent leaders in SWATA and NATA. His influence in the early development and governance of both organizations was consummate.

Education: Eddie received his high school diploma from the Erie Academy and later attended Howard (Samford) College in Birmingham, Alabama. He ultimately earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana Tech in 1936.

Professional Experience: While at Howard College, Eddie was the Athletic Trainer and an Instructor of Gymnastics. He later served as athletic trainer and instructor of physical education at Louisiana Tech from 1936 to 1942. During World War II, he went to Athens, Georgia to serve as an athletic trainer for the US Navy Pre-Flight School. Upon leaving Georgia, Wojecki became Head Athletic Trainer at the Rice Institute (University) where he remained until his death.

Elected Positions:

• SWATA President, 1954, 1955
• District VI Director, 1956
• Chair of the NATA Board of Directors, 1956

Honors and Awards:

• SWATA Hall of Fame Charter Member, 1985
• NATA Hall of Fame Member
• Head Athletic Trainer, US Olympic Team, 1952, Helsinki, Finland

Other Contributions:

• Wojecki provided multiple presentations to other allied health organizations to increase awareness of athletic trainers and sports medicine. Major presentations included:
  • Texas Physical Therapy Association, 1953
  • American Academy of General Practice, 1955
  • Texas Medical Association, 1957
• Wojecki also spoke at least 11 state coaching meetings around the United States and also at the Canadian Collegiate Association
• Several articles were published by Wojecki. The titles included:
  • "Pre-season Conditioning"
  • "The Acromioclavicular Separation"
  • "Atrophy of Quadriceps"
  • "Heat Exhaustion in Athletics"
  • "Cause and Effect of Athletic Injuries"
  • "Diet in Athletics"