The Texas Southern University family lost another legend as former head athletic trainer John "Doc" Harvey passed away on Tuesday.
Doc Harvey spent 41 years as Texas Southern's head athletic trainer from 1974-2015 and was a mainstay in the athletic department as he mentored and developed numerous students over the course of his career who are currently serving or have served in the athletic training profession in a variety of roles.
A Houston native, Harvey started his athletic training career as a student at Jack Yates High School. He continued his academic career path at Wiley College where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1966 and his master's degree from Prairie View A&M University in 1975. His first job was with Aldine ISD before moving to Austin ISD shortly thereafter. In 1969, Doc Harvey moved to the collegiate level and became the Head Athletic Trainer at Prairie View A&M University while serving there until 1971. John returned to the city of Houston to serve as the Head Athletic Trainer for Houston ISD in 1974 before returning back to the college level at Texas Southern.
Doc Harvey made an impact across all levels of athletics as he also worked with the Houston Texans of the World League of American Football along with the NFL's Houston Oilers.
He also holds distinction as the namesake of the "John Harvey Humanitarian Award" presented by the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association which he was the inaugural recipient in 2001. In 2005, Harvey was honored with the Touchdown Club of Houston Service Award. He also received the Black Sports Media Athletic Trainer of the Year (1996), NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2002) and the NAT Bill Chisolm Professional Service Award (2003).
As a result of his hard work in the athletic training profession, Doc Harvey was honored with inductions into the Texas Southern Athletics (2024), SWAC (2019) and SWATA (2003) Hall of Fames. He also served on the National Athletic Trainers Association's Ethnic Minority Advisory Council and the Board of Certification.
Harvey's Celebration of Life service will be announced in the immediate future once arrangements are finalized as it'll take place at Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Houston.
