Lexington, SC 08/06/2021 - River Buff Athletic Trainer Dr. George Wham was inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame on May 15, 2021, becoming only the second athletic trainer from South Carolina to earn the honor.
Wham is wrapping up his 23rd year in Lexington County School District One and is currently serving as co-Head Athletic Trainer at River Bluff High School.
He has played a leading role in advocating for, developing, and implementing a variety of health and safety initiatives for high school sports during his career at the state and national level including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Appropropriate Medical Care Standards for Secondary Schools, the SC Athlete Concussion Law, and many recent SCHSL regulations.
Dr. Wham earned his undergraduate degree from Presbyterian College along with master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of South Carolina. He has served on the athletic training staff at both institutions, as well as a faculty member in USC’s Athletic Training Education program. He has been an active member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association, South Carolina Athletic Trainer Association, and South Carolina Coaches Association serving in a variety of leadership roles. Most notably he has chaired the MAATA Secondary School and SCATA Governmental Affairs Committees, served as Vice-Chair of the NATA Secondary School Committee, and as President/Board of Directors member for the SC Coaches Association. Additionally, he has served on the SCATA High School Workshop, Public Relations, Hall of Fame, and Secondary School Committees. He currently chairs the SCATA Honors & Awards Committee, is a member of the SCHSL Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, SC AT Licensure Advocacy Committee, Brain Injury Association SafetyNet Task Force, and Korey Stringer Institute’s TUFFS project. Wham has delivered over 40 presentations at state and national conferences on issues involving appropriate medical care in secondary school athletics. His work has been published in the Journal of Athletic Training, Journal of the SC Medical Association, Coaching Today, Athletic Therapy Today, Training & Conditioning, and the NATA News. Wham has served as a consultant for the SC Department of Education, Brain Injury Association of SC, Gatorade, Cliff Bar, and the SCHSL.
Dr. Wham has been previously honored with the NATA Most Distinguished AT Award (2019), NATA AT Service Award (2013), Gatorade NATA District 3 Secondary School AT Award (2019), and MAATA Most Distinguished AT Award (2019). Wham was named SC Athletic Trainer of the Year (2014), University of South Carolina Atheltic Trainer Alumnus of the Year (2014), and served as Shrine Bowl Athletic Trainer (2013) and North-South All-Star Football Athletic Trainer (2000).
Originally from Clinton, SC, George and his wife Julie live in Lexington and have three children: Samuel, Merritt Elizabeth, and Preston.
When reflecting on his Hall of Fame induction, Dr. Wham points to five areas in which he is grateful.
His strength: God, Julie (wife) and Samuel, Merritt, Preston (children).
His family: Sammy & Jane Wham (parents) and Linda & Fletcher Hartley (in-laws)
His mentors: Jim Mensch, Nelson Jones, Rod Walters, Malissa Martin, Ruth Saunders, Scott Douglass, Fred Williams,
Dunny Dunlap, Damone Leaphart, Sheila Romano, Mack Harvey, Ben Freeman, Jean Haggard, Larry Cooper,Bart Peterson
His colleagues: Wendell Holmes, Frank Noojin, Mickey Plymale (team docs); TJ Marsh, Stacey Baynham, Rebekah Walters, Kerri McLaughlin, Skylar Aaron Rogers (current & former co-workers), Sheila Gordon, Byron Millwood, Jim Berry, Mark Buchman, Brad Drake
His Students: All my University of South Carolina AT students and River Bluff/Pelion High School student aides from over the years.
River Bluff High School's staff, District One, and all of Dr. Wham's students want to congratulate him on his achievements.
