Dean Nesmith
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Dean Nesmith was born in Belleville, Kansas, on February 11, 1914. He played football for the University of Kansas from 1933-35. In 1936, he played professional football for the New York Yankees in the American Football League. Nesmith became the assistant athletic trainer at the University of Kansas in 1937.
The next year "Deaner," as he was known, became the head athletic trainer for Kansas. He would hold that position until retiring in 1984. During World War II, Nesmith would spend some time working at the Olathe (KS) Naval Air Station rehabilitating pilots. He would serve as the athletic trainer for the U.S. basketball team at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
Nesmith would be the State Manager for Kansas in the original NATA. He would hold many positions with the current NATA, including being the Chair of the Board of Directors in 1952-53. For his long service to atheltic training, Nesmith was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1971.
Nesmith would pass away, at age 71, on September 25, 1985.
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