The University of West Alabama dedicated the newest facility in a series of renovations on the campus Wednesday afternoon. The R.T. Floyd Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Center was the center of attention for a guest list that included alumni, athletes and community patients among the namesake’s friends family.

Named for the school’s Director of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Dr. R.T. Floyd, the facility is located in the newly expanded James P. Homer Fieldhouse adjacent to Tiger Stadium.

Floyd is now in his 41st year at the University. He was introduced by Vice President for Institutional Advancement Clemit Spruiell, who credits the athletic trainer with establishing the program from ground-up.

Floyd shared with the crowd gathered that through his work and service to the profession he is living out a dream.

“I just never dreamed life could be so good and that I could’ve been helped and supported so much by so many people along the way,” Floyd said from the podium.

Floyd was greeted by a host of his friends and colleagues, including Dr. E. Lyle Cain of Andrews Sports Medicine, a doctor whose service has helped establish UWA’s facility as one of the premier operations in the Southeast.

“I think it’s remarkable that UWA has become a leader in outreach and sports medicine,” Cain said. “I’ve worked all around the country, and I can honestly say that the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation here is as good as any I’ve seen anywhere in the country.”

Not only is the program itself renowned for the top quality of service, but Floyd, Cain says, is an ideal leader for the staff.

“Across this region especially, from Mobile to Meridian, R.T. is known as the expert on musculoskeletal injuries,” Cain said. He said jokingly, “Sometimes he can figure out what’s going on and tell me, then I operate.”

The R. T. Floyd Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center’s services are available to the UWA students, faculty, staff, and patients in the UWA Service area including students and patients from over 60 schools in the 12 Alabama and six Mississippi surrounding counties.

The Center also serves as home to Champion Sports Medicine in Livingston and as a satellite clinic for E. Lyle Cain, Jr., M.D. and other physicians from Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center of Birmingham.

For more information on the R.T. Floyd Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Center at UWA, call (205) 652-3714 or visit at.uwa.edu.