CONCORD, N.C – The North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association selected Ray Davis of McLeansville and Mark White of Greensboro as the newest members of its Hall of Fame during its annual meeting this past weekend in Concord. Both are currently serving as athletic trainers at Southeast Guilford High School.
Davis received his Bachelor of Science in Health Education from Western Carolina University and his Master’s degree in Sports Medicine from the United States Sports Academy.
Following his graduation, Davis served as an assistant athletic trainer and educator at both UNC-Charlotte and Washington and Lee University. Davis has had stints at several middle and secondary schools over his career as a teacher and athletic trainer including Apex High School, West Lake Middle School, John A. Holmes High School as well as Southeast Guilford.
Davis has served in a variety of roles within the NCATA and the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association (MAATA). His most illustrious role with the NCATA has been as treasurer of the association. Davis, serving 16 years in this role, has done a remarkable job of overseeing the financial records of this organization making sure the NCATA has maintained financial stability and viability to continue to provide services to the athletic trainers of this state. He was recently elected to assume the same roll with the MAATA. According to Jay Scifers, Past President of the NCATA, “as a direct result of Ray’s financial leadership and investment strategies, the holdings of this organization have enjoyed significant increases over the last decade. Ray’s fiscal foresight and steadfast dedication to the NCATA’s (and now the MAATA’s) bottom line have served this organization in immeasurable ways.”
Davis has won countless awards over his career. He was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1999. He has been recognized by both the NCATA and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) with twenty-five year Service Awards. The NATA recognized him with the NATA Service Award in 2013 and in 2014 he was named the Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year.
Davis was selected to represent NC at the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas football game in 2011. In 2009, he joined the East-West staff and is responsible for covering the annual East-West All-Star football game.
At his induction, Davis thanked many of his colleagues and friends with whom he has worked with over the years, but gave special recognition to his parents, Lonnie Ray Davis and Pat Davis, along with his grandmother Marie Davis for providing him with the necessary life skills and his driving work ethic to make him the person he is today. Davis uttered the words “Honored, Grateful, Blessed and Thankful” at the beginning of his speech. As an organization, the NCATA can echo those words to Davis as they are honored, grateful, blessed and thankful for the service he has provided and continues to provide this organization.
White received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education minoring in Athletic Training from Appalachian State University and his Master’s Degree in Physical Education from NC A&T State University.
White spent his first five years as a teacher and athletic trainer at Dudley High School. From there, he moved to Southeast Guilford High School where he has spent the last 25 years as a physical education teacher and athletic trainer. He also serves as the golf coach at the school.
White’s most notable service to the NCATA has been on its Board of Directors. He served on the board for 16 consecutive years, first as a district representative (5 years), then NCATA Vice-President (5 years) and finally as NCATA President (6 years). During his tenure as President, White led the NCATA through a crucial time in their quest to move the organization forward to provide more recognition of athletic trainers as medical professionals providing a service to the student-athletes of our state. Initiatives during his tenure included the completion of the NCATA Hall of Fame in its permanent location at Appalachian State University, the establishment of the Pioneer Award recognizing members of the organization and medical community for their contributions to the growth and development of athletic trainers in North Carolina, continued legislative action to improve and protect the athletic trainers and student-athletes of the state, establishment of the NCATA Summer Symposium to provide educational opportunities for athletic trainers and the expansion of the Board of Directors to include representation of all work setting for athletic trainers. White continues to serve the organization as the current executive director of the Athletic Trainer NC PAC committee and a member of the finance committee.
White has been bestowed many awards from the state, district and national associations. White was named NCATA Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1999. He was recognized by the MAATA as a Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer in 2010. Twice, he has been recognized with Lifesaver Recognition Awards by the American Red Cross in 2000 and by the NATA in 2014. White was recognized by the Board of Certification with the Dan Libera Award in 2014.
White is very involved in athletic training outside of the walls of Southeast High School. He served on the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas staff in 1999. In 2000, he joined the staff of the East-West All-Star games and continues to serve as an athletic trainer for the annual football game. In 2008, White began volunteering annually at the Boston Marathon and was in the line of fire working feverishly to provide aid to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
Dr. Ryan Draper, team physician for Southeast Guilford stated, “he has shown a tremendous dedication to his profession. He is not only a health care provider for his school but also serves as an educator, coach and a leader on a daily basis. He should not only be commended for his service as an ATC (certified athletic trainer), but also for his lifelong commitment to educating our children.”
White, just as Davis did, recognized his parents Richard and Barbara White. He mentioned the sacrifices parents make for their children and his was no different. “They taught me right from
wrong; they instilled positive and good values and a good work ethic.” He also thanked his wife Jada and daughter Alexandra for understanding the reason for the countless hours he is away from home. White stated, “Athletic training has done far more for me than I could ever do for it. I’ve learned so much and been able to so many great things. I’ve been able to go places and meet some great people who love this profession. This is a truly unique profession. Anything can happen on any given day.”
Davis and White join previous Hall of Fame members Jim Bazluki (CMC-Northeast) from the class of 2014, Bob Casmus (Catawba College) and Mike Guerrero (Garner High School) from the class of 2013, Ken Brown (Durham) and Katie Walsh (ECU) from the class of 2012, Dwayne Durham (Hendersonville), class of 2011, Marty Baker (Elon University) and Jim Strickland (Wilmington) from the class of 2010, Dan Hooker (UNC-Chapel Hill) and Rick Proctor (High Point University) from the class of 2009, Robbie Lester (Winston-Salem), class of 2008, Gail McMurray (Durham Jordan High School), class of 2005, Bernie Capps (Rocky Mount Senior High School ), Zachariah McNeil (Scotland High School), Kirby Patterson (NW Cabarrus High
School) and Steve Womack (Lee Senior High School) from the class of 2003, Bob Ford (Wake Forest) and John Burney (Southern Guilford High School) from the class of 2002, Mary Neal Broos (Guilford College) and Scott Barringer (Cabarrus County Schools) from the class of 2001, and Elton Hawley (Carolinas Medical Center/Charlotte), who was the first athletic trainer presented in 2000.