Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association

After graduating from Pfugerville High School in Texas, Joe Worden attended the University of Texas in Austin where he completed a B.S. in Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Education. While there, he first became interested in the care and prevention of athletic injuries and had the unique opportunity to train under the legendary Frank Medina, a former U.S. Olympic Trainer. Joe was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and saw action in Guam and the Marshall Islands during World War II. He became Vanderbilt’s head athletic trainer in 1949 and handled all sports until 1971 when he was assigned to specialize in football and men’s basketball. He continued to assist club sports, and in 1977 began working with the newly created women’s intercollegiate athletic program. He officially retired at Vanderbilt in 1986, but continued to volunteer his services and never missed a game until his death on June 5, 1998. Affectionately referred to as “Joe Bird”, he was one of the most respected and beloved staff members in the history of Vanderbilt Athletics. He represented District IX on the NATA Board of Directors from 1964 to 1965. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society Hall of Fame in 1994. Two highly regarded awards have been named for him — the Joe Worden Clinic/Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year Award given by the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society and the Joe L. Worden Courage Award presented by the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Joe was inducted in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in February 2004.

• After graduating from Pfugerville High School in Texas, Joe Worden attended the University of Texas in Austin where he completed a B.S. in Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Education. While there, he first became interested in the care and prevention of athletic injuries and had the unique opportunity to train under the legendary Frank Medina, a former U.S. Olympic Trainer. Joe was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and saw action in Guam and the Marshall Islands during World War II. He became Vanderbilt’s head athletic trainer in 1949 and handled all sports until 1971 when he was assigned to specialize in football and men’s basketball. He continued to assist club sports, and in 1977 began working with the newly created women’s intercollegiate athletic program. He officially retired at Vanderbilt in 1986, but continued to volunteer his services and never missed a game until his death on June 5, 1998. Affectionately referred to as “Joe Bird”, he was one of the most respected and beloved staff members in the history of Vanderbilt Athletics. He represented District IX on the NATA Board of Directors from 1964 to 1965. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society Hall of Fame in 1994. Two highly regarded awards have been named for him — the Joe Worden Clinic/Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year Award given by the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society and the Joe L. Worden Courage Award presented by the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Joe was inducted in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in February 2004.

A native Atlantan, Buck Andel played football for and graduated from Boys High. He went on to graduate with a bachelor's and master's degree from Georgia Tech where he lettered in both baseball and football. Mr. Andel was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II receiving a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts for his service. From 1948 until 1969, he was the head athletic trainer of all sports including track, basketball, baseball and wrestling at Georgia Tech during which time he served 14 Bowl teams. For 18 of those years, he was a key member of the staff of Bobby Dodd, legendary head football coach from 1945 to 1966. He also worked as an athletic trainer for the 1960 Olympic Games. He was one of the NATA founders and served on the original board of directors in 1950. He also served as District IX Secretary from 1951to 1953. He was honored with induction into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1968 and received a citation from the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He was and inductee in the inaugural Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the NATA 50 Year Award in 2005. Buck Andel passed away February 13, 2005 at age 83.

• A native Atlantan, Buck Andel played football for and graduated from Boys High. He went on to graduate with a bachelor's and master's degree from Georgia Tech where he lettered in both baseball and football. Mr. Andel was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II receiving a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts for his service. From 1948 until 1969, he was the head athletic trainer of all sports including track, basketball, baseball and wrestling at Georgia Tech during which time he served 14 Bowl teams. For 18 of those years, he was a key member of the staff of Bobby Dodd, legendary head football coach from 1945 to 1966. He also worked as an athletic trainer for the 1960 Olympic Games. He was one of the NATA founders and served on the original board of directors in 1950. He also served as District IX Secretary from 1951to 1953. He was honored with induction into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1968 and received a citation from the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He was and inductee in the inaugural Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the NATA 50 Year Award in 2005. Buck Andel passed away February 13, 2005 at age 83.

Sandy, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, moved to Chattanooga at 14 and never left the valley he loved. Lee Jensen, the Chattanooga Lookout’s athletic trainer, saw Sandy with his gentle manner mending the wing of a fallen bird. Jensen said, “If you can do that, come help me with the Lookout players.” Sandy began his career as an athletic trainer in the early 1930’s with the Chattanooga Lookouts in the Southern League and in 1935 became the athletic trainer for the baseball team. Sandy Sandlin was Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Chattanooga from 1938 until 1975, during which time he also spent 1943-45 as athletic trainer at Georgia Tech. An All-Star A thletic Trainer for the Southern Baseball League, Sandy moved from the University of Chattanooga to The Baylor School in 1975 to serve as head athletic trainer until 1979. According to peers, “He was one of the most straight-forward, compassionate, and gentle individuals one could meet. We never met such a sincere and dedicated man.” In 1973 he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame—at a time few non-athletes were chosen. He received the NATA 25 Year Award in 1974 and was inducted posthumously into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1994 Sandy was inducted into the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society Hall of Fame which further honored him with the establishment of the annual Sandy Sandlin High School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.

•