Fairfield High School Athletic Trainer John Bear received the Chris Parks’ Secondary School Athletic Training Memorial Award - “Be Great, Don’t Suck” on Saturday, April 27, at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, Texas at the Central Texas Athletic Trainer Society’s (CTATS) annual meeting.
“Receiving this award means a lot to me. When I first started here back in 2006, I befriended the athletic trainer in Mexia. His name was Chris Parks. I considered him a great friend and mentor,” Bear said. “We would talk all the time, and he would be a sounding board for me if I needed advice. When he passed away in 2017, it was a very hard time for me. I am blessed and happy to have an award in his name. I will be forever grateful to have received it.” Bear has been serving as the Fairfield ISD Athletic Trainer for 14 years.
“I am so thankful that John Bear is back at Fairfield,” Fairfield Boys Athletic Director John Bachtel said. “He does a tremendous job at being a super trainer and a super person. John is a hard worker and cares about our kids at Fairfield.”
The late Chris Parks was the longtime Athletic Trainer at Mexia High School. He prided himself in his work, especially with his athletic training student program.
He was an advocate for the Athletic Training profession by serving the community in as many ways as he could as a healthcare professional. His family has set up a memorial fund in his honor to award to one deserving secondary school athletic training program each year.
We are in search of programs that have an athletic training student program, and that promote the profession both within their own school and within the community.
“John Bear earned this award by doing all the things that Chris Parks represented. We knew Chris and he was an outstanding person and trainer. He loves kids and would do anything for them,” Bachtel said. “John follows that same mode. I’m proud John was selected to receive the Chris Parks Memorial Award.”
Applications for this award are submitted to a committee who then makes a selection and recommends it to the board.
“I am glad to be at Fairfield ISD because it feels like home. The coaches and staff of the district look at each other and treat each other like family,” Bear said. “Since starting back in August 2006, I have enjoyed being here and taking care of the student athletes of the district. I look at them like they are my kids. I hurt when they hurt, and I’m excited when they succeed.”
