Robert L. Beeten  has been nominated and selected to the Colorado Athletic Trainer’s Association Hall of Fame for the class of 2012.   Robert began his collegiate career at Colorado A&M, Colorado State University, graduating with a double major of physical education and history in 1956.    He went on to teach science and was the Head Athletic Trainer at first Bowie High School and then Irving High School in El Paso, TX before becoming the Head Athletic Trainer at Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID.
 

Robert was the Head Athletic Trainer followed by the Student Health Service Rehabilitation Director at Idaho State University from 1959-1977.  During his tenure at ISU Robert graduated from Brigham Young University with his MS in Sports Medicine in 1964 and followed that by becoming the Head Track and Field Coach from1965-1977. He was name Big Sky Coach of the Year 10 times from 1965-1977.  Obviously Robert knew how to multitask while at Idaho State.
 

In 1967 Robert began his long association with the United States Olympic Committee.   He first worked as a Staff Athletic Trainer for the Pan American games in Mexico City, Mexico, and followed that becoming the Head Athletic Trainer & Medical Coordinator for the Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble, France in 1968. Robert was also the Head Athletic Trainer & Medical Coordinator for the Olympic Summer games in Montreal, Canada in 1976.   
 

In 1977, Robert left ISU to become the USOC Director of Sports Medicine until 2000.   During his tenure at the USOC he was the Medical Coordinator for the Pan American Games in 1979, the Olympic Winter games in 1980, the Olympic Summer games in 1980, and again for the Olympic Summer games in 1984.  Robert also started the NATA certified Athletic Trainer, Chiropractor, and Physician volunteer program in 1977 for the USOC, which many of you have participated over the years.  
 

Throughout his career, Robert has been active in the NATA, District 7, and the CATA.   He helped organize and hosted the CATA annual meetings in 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1983.    He presented at the NATA District #7 annual meeting on ACL repair & management in 1980.  He was the keynote speaker at the NATA National Convention and Symposium in 1983.  He was a member of the CATA committee for State Licensure and provided testimony at State Legislative Hearings and organized physician support for the Legislation.   

For all his work, Robert Beeten was honored as the NATA “Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer” in 1994.   He was inducted into the RMATA Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2003.  This year I would like everyone to welcome Robert Beeten into the Colorado Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2012.  Mr.Beeten is also a member of the NATA and RMATA Hall's of Fame, click below to see his profiles.