Posted on

Lacambra and Jones accept Presidents Distinguished Service awards

At the 2015 MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., PBATS President Mark O’Neal present Magie Lacambra of Gatorade and Rex Jones of the Houston Astros with the 2015 President’s Distinguished Service awards for their honorable and relentless pursuit to strengthen the positive impact of PBATS as an educational society.

About the awards, President Mark O’Neal said, “Both Lacambra and Jones are two of the most well respected people to have ever worked with the PBATS membership. It goes without saying that without their hard work and continued passion for athletic training, PBATS would not be as well established and influential as it is today. We thank them for all of their hard work over the years. The entire membership is beyond appreciative of the efforts and support we’ve received from both Magie and Rex.”

Armed with a B.S. from Cal State Fullerton and a Master’s in Education from Arizona State University, Magie Lacambra embarked on a remarkable career as a Division I athletic trainer with Arizona State University. She also served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the University of Arizona football team.

In 2000, Magie joined the Gatorade Sports Marketing team. It is in that role that The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society has had the good fortune to come to know and work with Magie. Demonstrating a remarkable commitment for the health of athletes, and those who serve them, Magie’s knowledge, friendship and unwavering support of PBATS mission has enhanced our ability as athletic trainers. She has undoubtedly helped us to better serve the athletes in our care.

Along with the deserving Lacambra, Rex Jones, who recently announced his retirement from the Houston Astros organization, accepted his award in front of the PBATS membership in Nashville.

Rex has spent his entire athletic training career with the Houston Astros. A lifetime Astros’ staff member, Rex received the call to the Major Leagues in 1994 after spending 16 years in the Astros’ Minor League system. He spent five years as the organization’s director of Minor League athletic trainers.

Jones started his pro baseball career in 1978 with the Class-A Daytona Beach club, while still earning his Bachelor’s degree in physical education from Missouri State University. After his time at Class-A Dayton Beach, Rex worked as the head athletic trainer for the Class-AA Columbus Astros from 1979 to 1983. He was eventually promoted to the Class-AAA Tucson Toros in 1983.

Rex is a Lockwood, Mo., native and a certified member of NATA, the Southwest Athletic Trainers Society and the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers Society. He is a licensed athletic trainer in the state of Texas. He and his wife, Annette, live in Manvel, Texas with their children Megan, Jeremiah, and Laura.

During Rex’s time served on the PBATS Board of Directors from 2002-2008, he helped oversee the largest expansion of PBATS programs in its history. His warm personal style coupled with his love of athletic training and PBATS made him an extremely valuable and respected board member and friend.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://pbats.com/lacambra-and-jones-accept-presidents-distinguished-service-awards/