2000 Hall of Fame Inductee
A pioneer in her profession, Earlene Durrant has had a long association with BYU.
Dr. Durrant spent the first decade of her career as a secondary school teacher. Then, in 1973, she became the first female athletic trainer ar BYU, serving as the head women's trainer until 1990. During this time she simultaneously directed the athletic training program and developed the program's undergraduate curriculum. She is currently chair of the Department of Physical Education, a position she has served in since 1994, and president of the BYU Faculty Women's Association.
Among her many pioneering accomplishments is that of being the first to hold a National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) certification in the state of Utah and being the first woman elected president of the Utah Athletic Trainers Association, a position she held from 1989 to 1992. She was also the first female committee chairperson of NATA, serving for 10 years as chair of the Memorial Resolutions Committee.
With today's induction Durrant joins one of her mentors, Rod Kimball, as the second athletic trainer inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame. The 1999 recipient of the NATA Outstanding Service Award, she was also inducted earlier this month into the NATA Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 1998. In addition, she has served in many leadership capacities in the seven professional organizations to which she belongs.
Dr. Durrant has delivered numerous symposiums, lectures, and papers throughout the nation. She has written several manuscripts and abstracts and has published a book, Weight Training for the Female Athlete. Since she came to the university in 1972, she has taught 32 different courses.
Prior to permanently joining the BYU faculty in Provo, she was head of the women's physical education department at the BYU-Hawaii campus from 1967 to 1972. Before she moved to Laie, she spent three years as a coach, advisor, and teacher at the BY High Lab School in Provo.
Durrant earned her doctorate in 1975-the culmination of three degrees from BYU (bachelor's - 1962; master's - 1963). She has pursued postdoctoral study at the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the Cleveland Sports Medicine Institute, and the Sports Medicine Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross and the Utah County Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She has also served on the board of directors for the Provo Women's Bowling Association and as a consultant to the Provo and Alpine School Districts. Currently she is chair of event operations for the local 2002 Olympic Organizing Committee.
Born in Coalville, Utah, Dr. Durrant was raised in Cheyenne and Green River, Wyoming; Omaha, Nebraska; Pocatello, Idaho; and Ogden, Utah, while her father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. Her hobbies include golf, skiing, reading and genealogy.