RICHMOND, Ky. - Dr. Bobby Barton, Eastern Kentucky University's head athletics trainer, was honored recently by the All-American Football Foundation in ceremonies in Tunica, MS.

Barton, who has been head trainer at Eastern since 1976, was one of two athletics trainers to receive the Outstanding Football Athletics Trainer Award, joining Mississippi State's Straton Karatassos as a 1999 recipient for this award.

"It is indeed an honor to be associated with such distinguished individuals," Barton said. "This award is particularly meaningful to me because of the involvement of Roy Kidd (EKU head football coach) and Guy Penny (former Morehead State head football coach)."

Both Kidd and Penny recommended Barton for this honor.

While serving two terms as President of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) in the early '80's, Barton had previously been selected Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year by NATA in 1984. He was also recognized as the 1998 recipient of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Distinguished Service Award for Athletic Training.

Barton, a native of Charleston, WV, came to Eastern from the University of Kentucky where he served the 1975-76 season as associate trainer in charge of the basketball Wildcats.

Barton received his B.A. degree from the UK in 1968 and his M.S. at Marshall University in 1970. He earned his Doctor of Arts degree in Adapted Physical Education at Middle Tennessee State University in 1975 and completed the requirements for his certificate in corrective therapy from Texas A&M University.