Larry Lohr, the first athletic trainer in the Rio Grande Valley, has the honor of being the father of Athletic Training in South Texas. He started his career in the late 50's at Donna High School as a contract athletic trainer. His hard work and dedication to the profession inspired others in our area to follow in his footsteps. Mr. Lohr also has the distinction of being the only Valley athletic trainer to be part of a football state championship when the Donna Redskins captured the title in 1961. His career took him to Donna, McAllen, Weslaco, and La Feria high schools. Larry Lohr was inducted into the SWATA Hall of Honor for his hard work and dedication to the Athletic Training profession.
1943 - Navy - Completed the Navy School of Physical Therapy and served as a physical fitness instructor and therapist for pilots of aircraft carriers
Feb. 1958 - Aug. 1967 - Contract athletic trainer for Donna Independent School District and part of the 1961 state champion football team
Lectured at SWATA District 6 injury clinic at Baylor in 1962 and 1981
1967 - Became Head Athletic Trainer for boys and girls athletics at McAllen High School. Stayed at McHi for 14 years until June, 1981
At McHi his athletic training program was chosen to represent Texas at the high school level as part of a display at NATA Convention in Kansas City in 1974
1978 - Held a 5 day sports injury clinic for PE instructors, students, coaches and physicians at the University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrery, Mexico
Aug. 1981 - Became Head Athletic Trainer for Weslaco Independent School District
1967 - Athletic trainer for the South football squad at the Texas High School Coaches Association's game.
1982 - Athletic trainer for the South basketball All-Stars at the T.H.S.C.A. coaching school in Houston
Feb. 1, 1986 - Completed 28 years as an athletic trainer
1990 - 1992 - Athletic trainer for La Feria Independent School District