Samuel Bilik |
Samuel Bilik was born on September 23, 1891, in Russia. He immigrated to the United States, in 1911, and began his extensive studies. He went to several schools ending up, in 1916, at the University of Illinois. He was enrolled there in the pre-med program. He served as an assistant to Illini athletic trainer Matt Bullock when he was at Illinois. Bilik was a member of the faculty, teaching one of the first classes on "Training." For that class he wrote Athletic Training.
Bilik would leave Illinois when he enlisted for World War I. After the war, he attended Bellevue Medical School and was granted his MD in 1925. He would provide clinics for athletic trainers during the summers, starting in 1926, which were an important part of the education of many early athletic trainers. He would also speak at many clinics, promoting better care for athletes and athletic training.
The greatest contribution to athletic training of Dr. Bilik was his writing. His initial book, going through some name changes, would become The Trainers Bible. The Trainers Bible was the fundamental text that athletic trainers used from the 1920's through the 1950's. The ninth, and last, edition was published in 1956.
Bilik will help fund the first meeting of the EATA and will speak at many of their meetings. Bilik passes away on June 25, 1972.
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