Edwin Douglas “Eddie” Cantler passed away in Feburary of 2014 at the age of 61. Eddie was the second President of the Tennessee Athletic Trainer’s Society. Serving in this position from 1982 through 1985.
Eddie was a native of Bowling Green KY and came to the University of Memphis (Memphis State) in the fall of 1970. He was a student athletic trainer during his undergraduate years and was hired as a full time assistant athletic trainer in May of 1975. He worked under Gene Smith.
In the 1970’s the NATA was encouraging state to pass legislation to control athletic training at the state level. On Feburary 6, 1977 a group of athletic trainer meet at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and wrote a bill and found sponsors. Gene Smith was one of the main advocate of this project. In committee the athletic trainers were told that a separate board would have to be self-sustaining which was estimated to be about $15,000 a year. A little high for 30 athletic trainers
When Gene Smith died in 1980. Eddie picked up his torch.
A state senator from Memphis, Curtis Person, who was a Memphis State fan, while at a basketball was talking to Eddie about the athletic training bill. Senator Person said “give me your bill and I will sponcer it.” The problem was we did not have a bill, the old one did not fit anymore. This was January 5, 1983 and bill had to be submitted by mid-February. Eddie and I met a couple of times and fax a lot, this was before email. We borrow from GA, KY and OK bills, and came up with a bill. The bill was sponsored in the House Elbert Gill also from Memphis. Mr. Gill was a chiropractor. Eddie was mainly responsible for the first athletic training act in Tennessee.
In 2004 Eddie became Assistant Athletic Director/Support Services. In this position he was in charge of managers, athletic trainers and strength training at the Murphy Athletic Complex, In addition Eddie worked as tournament manager for numerous events hosted by the department.
He was inducted into the TATS Hall of Fame in 1996, was the Eugene Smith/O’Brien College Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1992, received the NATA Service Award in1998, and was inducted into the All-American Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2001.
In addition to his work at the University, Eddie was in his 12th year as the Director of Music Ministries at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Memphis.
Eddie is survived by his wife, Jenina and two sons, Andy and Michael