The executive board of the Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association has renamed its annual scholarship program for Hinesville native Lori Mobley Groover.
Mobley Groover is also being honored by Nicholls State University, whereshe served as an assistant professor of athleitc training and coordinator of health sciences. The university plans to offer Lori Mobley Groover Leadership Awards to junior and senior athletic training students at Nicholls who demonstrate leadership qualities and characteristics. Groover served on the executive board from January 2003-December 2006. She was president from January 2005-December 2006, and later served as secretary of the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association from 2007-09.
Groover, 42, died Aug. 8, about two months after she was diagnosed with cancer.
She was the daughter of Sandy and Bobby Mobley and sister of Jennifer Mobley, and attended Bradwell Institute where she played softball. Her parents, both active in sports, said Mobley Groover became interested in athletic training after she injured her knee and underwent surgery.
Sandy Mobley said her daughter had surgery as recently as May and her pre-operation exams showed no signs of cancer. Three weeks after the operation, Mobley Groover went to her doctor complaining of pain in her side. She and her family were told Mobley Groover had an aggressive form of stage-four cancer. The family left Louisiana and brought their daughter home to begin treatment in Savannah.
"She was diagnosed with cancer on June 12 and she passed away on Aug. 8," Sandy Mobley said.
Bobby Mobley, who is an official for the Hinesville Official’s Association, said he was humbled to have scholarships named for his daughter.
"After she got sick and she passed, I was truly amazed at all the people who have come forward with so many positive things they said about Lori," he said. "It’s been a tremendous amount of strength for us to get through this. She always did things not expecting a pat on the back. But I had no idea she had accomplished so much in her career and had impacted so many lives."
"I’m so proud," Mobley Groover’s mother said. "Lori was not boastful. I mean, I knew she had held offices in the organization, but this was not expected. I was shocked."
GATA President Michael Clanton said in a recent press release, "Lori was a leader, often serving as a pioneer in new athletic training settings. The GATA offers three scholarships each year, one for a high school student, one for a college student, and one for a college graduate student. Lori was involved in all these areas during her career and the executive board feels that Lori deserves to be remembered in a fashion befitting her passion and dedication."
The first round of scholarships in the renamed program will be awarded as part of the 2010 annual meeting of the GATA in Peachtree City on Jan. 16 at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center.
The Mobleys said they plan to be present at the ceremony.
"Folks should remember her honesty, friendliness and her willingness to help," Sandy Mobley said.
"It’s also about being true to yourself and being who you are but still having compassion for others," Bobby Mobley said. "That is the way Lori was."
Scholarships totaling $1,000 are awarded each year by the GATA. Applications for the awards will soon be available on the association’s Web site, www.athletictraining.org.