Prairie View A&M University, Director of Sports Medicine John Mayes, MS, ATC, LAT was recently awarded a Proclamation Certificate of Commendation from the State of Texas Governor Rick Perry for his efforts in ensuring the success of the National Athletics Trainers' Association Research Educational Foundation (NATAREF).

Mayes, a 20-year employee of Prairie View A&M, has played a vital part in advancing the NATA's Research & Education Foundation over the past year as he established the John A. Mayes Scholarship Endowment which will provide financial resources for educational research opportunities in the field of sports medicine for ethnic minority students in an effort to promote healthcare in the minority community.

"It's an honor to be recognized," he said.  "I consider this to be a blessing and a special honor to have someone such as Gov. Perry of this great State of Texas to take time out of his schedule to commend me.  This really caught me by surprise".

Since establishing the scholarship endowment, Mayes has worked tirelessly to champion the NATA's cause as the Houston native serves on several boards in addition to serving for four years as the NATA National Liaison for the association's ethnic diversity initiatives. His work hasn't gone unnoticed as Texas State Rep. Sylvester Turner, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee and Houston Mayor Bill White also honored Mayes with Proclamations and Resolutions of Commendations this past summer.

Mayes, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the field of Sports Medicine on the high school, collegiate and professional ranks, said he's "motivated by the opportunity to help students succeed" in the field of sports medicine and life.  Prairie View A&M Sports Medicine has had about 65 student interns receive their undergraduate degrees and about 35 of them have obtained their master's.

"I've had students to receive internships in the NBA, NFL, WNBA and conduct further graduate studies at universities such as Texas Tech, California University of Pennsylvania, Bloomburg University and Stephen F. Austin," said Mayes.

With the amount of accolades that has been showered over Mayes in such a short amount of time combined with his educational and athletic commitments to Prairie View A&M and his involvement with CAEOS Foundation Inc., one would think he would take time out to sit back and reflect on his accomplishments.  However, Mayes continues to work harder to promote his cause behind the scenes.

"I pray to God everyday that he help me to remain humble. Many people sometimes get so involved with promoting themselves and their accomplishments they develop the tendency to ignore humility and servanthood.  I truly believe that by design we are servants to one another, what you do for others is what really counts," he said.  "Others may do things for alternative motives, but I was taught by my parents "I am my brother's keeper".  I think that when your work is speaking, the best thing for any man to do is remain quiet."