The Journal of Athletic Training and the athletic training profession lost a great friend on September 6, 2004. Dr. Jack Hughston, one of the fathers of sports medicine, passed away at his home in Cataula, Georgia. He was 87.
In 1949, Dr. Hughston founded the Hughston Clinic, where average people as well as famous athletes were treated. In 1984, the Hughston Sports Medicine Hospital opened. It was the first facility of its kind in the country. He also created the Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, designed to promote advances in sports medicine and orthopaedics.
Dr. Hughston was a visionary in sports medicine. He wrote several books and numerous scientific articles that were published in peer-reviewed medical journals. He is well known for his work in treating knee injuries and for being the first to establish postdoctoral fellowships in sports medicine. He helped lobby for the use of mouthguards and the abolition of the crack-back block. Many of his writings and teachings have become clinical standard of practice. For example, his early writings most likely established the proper knee angle during a medial stress test to isolate the medial collateral ligament.
Dr. Hughston was Chairman of the Sports Medicine Committee for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons from 1965 through 1975. He was one of the founders of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the International Society of the Knee. He started the American Journal of Sports Medicine, a prestigious scientific journal, of which he was Editor from 1972 through 1989. In 1970, Dr. Hughston was appointed a Clinical Professor, and the Hughston Clinic participated in the training of Tulane orthopaedic residents for more than 20 years. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from Auburn University and was an Adjunct Professor at Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Hughston was named an honorary member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association for his role in developing and supporting the profession of athletic training.
The Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation has been the home of the Journal of Athletic Training editorial office since 1996. Since finding a home at the Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, the Journal has been the beneficiary of Dr. Hughston's great generosity. The personnel time and other resources provided to the Journal have far exceeded any contractual agreement. I had the good fortune to visit with Dr. Hughston at the Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation this past year, shortly after I was named Editor-in-Chief of the Journal. I vividly recall two comments he made to me during our visit. The first was, “I don't care if we make any money on the Journal of Athletic Training; just let me know if I can help.” The second was, “Make it the best journal you possibly can.” My response to the second comment at the time was, “We will do our best, sir.” My response now is, “It's the least we can do. Thanks for everything, Dr. Hughston.”