In Memoriam of Dr. Gary Delforge
On Friday May 19, 2023, our profession lost a Pioneer in Athletic Training Education with the passing of Dr. Gary Delforge.
His passion impacted all of us, not only in our clinical practice of athletic healthcare, but our profession as a whole. As Arizona Athletic Trainers, we are immensely proud of the legacy he left us in the promotion of Athletic Training Education. Students will remember Dr. D for more than just his professional approach to AT Education. He will be remembered for his personal approach to teaching, which included staying close to his former students throughout the years. He was everybody’s surrogate father. He was very warm, welcoming, and friendly. But as many of us know, the “Little General’ had a strong will, too. He was adamant about standing firm in his convictions about athletic training education when speaking to others, including those in leadership positions that may not have always agreed with him, but respected his unwavering dedication. He was proud to be an athletic trainer and he celebrated the devotion, service, and accomplishments of his former students to the profession of athletic training. He spent his professional career advancing the education of athletic trainers, which has touched each and every one of us. He will be missed by many.
IMPACT
The Man - The Educator
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”___ Einstein
Delforge’s greatest legacy will be his students:
400+ Master of Science / Post-Professional AT Students
100's of Head Athletic Trainers
100's of District and State Officers
45+ NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers
22 NATA Hall of Fame Members
6 NATA Fellows
2 NATA Presidents
2 Accredited Graduate AT Programs (University of Arizona, A.T. Still University)
Many, many program directors and AT faculty.
1960 BS Kansas State University
1961 MS Kent State
1962 Assistant AT – Western Michigan University
1963-70 Head AT – University of Arizona
1973 EdD from the University of Arizona
1981 3rd Chair NATA Professional Education Committee
____ Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Athletic Training Educator Award
1988 NATA Hall of Fame
1994-2000 AT Education Program Director, Arizona School of Health Sciences / ATSU
1994 Bud Miller Award
1994 AzATA Hall of Fame
1994 RMATA Hall of Fame
2001 AOSSM Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award
Gary was blessed with 3 daughters: Julie, Sandy and Kelly
On Behalf of the AzATA Leadership Past and Present
Memoriam Authors
Micheal E. Nesbit, Dennis Murphy, and Jackie Kingma
Dr. Gary Delforge Service Details
Sunday June 11th at 11am
East Lawn Palms Mortuary & Cemetery
5801 E. Grant Rd. Tucson Az



The Arizona Board of Athletic Training currently has two openings for professional member positions
- Both positions require at least three years of experience in Athletic Training or teaching in an accredited Athletic Training education program in this state immediately before appointment.
- Applicants must also hold a current license as an Athletic Trainer in the State of Arizona.
- Board members are required to prepare for and attend monthly meetings, usually held the first Monday of the month at 9:30 a.m.
For more information or to apply visit: https://bc.azgovernor.gov/home
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