Texas State Athletics Trainer Succumbs to Cancer

BY: KEFF CIARDELLO, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

@Keff_C

For the past 25 years, David Gish has been a familiar face on the side line of the Texas State University football team as their head athletics trainer.  That familiar face will be missing this Saturday, as Gish passed away yesterday morning, September 22, after a hard fight with cancer. He turned 52 last June.

“We are deeply saddened with the loss of a very dedicated and well-respected member of our staff,” said Texas State athletics director Larry Teis in a press release sent out by the school. “Our heart-felt condolences and prayers go out to Karen, Madison, Hayden and the rest of David’s family and friends.”

Gish received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas in 1984 and his master’s from Texas State (known as Southwest Texas State back then). He was San Marcos High School’s athletic trainer for four years before he joined the Bobcats’ staff in 1990. He had served as the head athletic for TXST since 1998.

Alongside being TXST’s trainer, he served as the NCAA Division I FCS representative on the College/University Athletic Training Committee for District VI of the National Athletic Trainers Association. He also served as president for the Alamo Area’s Athletics Trainers Association in 1999 and was involved in the development of the Texas State Athletics Trainers Association in 2000.

He helped create a sports medicine course for high school athletics trainers in the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association. He then went on to be an instructor of that course.

For his distinctive and sustained service to the profession, Gish earned the National Athletics Trainers Association’s Service Award in 2010. He was also inducted into the Alamo Area’s Athletics Trainers Association Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two children, Madison and Hayden. They will be holding a service for the celebration of his life. It will be held on Sunday, Oct. 12, at the San Marcos Embassy Suites and Convention Center at 2:00 p.m.