Dean Weber, a longtime beloved head athletic trainer at the U of A, died last week in Fayetteville, leaving a powerful legacy.

News of his passing spread quickly among those whose lives he had touched, sparking an emotional wave of social media posts, opinion pieces and media mentions, which underscored his impact on athletes, friends, colleagues and the student recipients of his Dean Weber Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship.

Weber, 78, supervised athletic training operations for the U of A men's sports teams for 35 years, then continued to serve the Athletics Department and former Arkansas student-athletes in his role at the Razorback Foundation.

He was the driving force behind the U of A athletic training program. The College of Education and Health Professions was the first in Arkansas to offer a master's degree in athletic training.

Brendon McDermott, who teaches in the program, said, "None of us would be able to do what we do now here without Dean. He was instrumental in laying the groundwork for an athletic training program to begin here at the U of A. It was because he had built such a positive professional reputation for athletic training within his network of patients, coaches, families and athletic administrators with whom he worked. He was a true Razorback and worked here for 50 years."

McDermott recalled Weber's grit and how he treated everyone with honesty, empathy and respect. "Dean set a valuable example for our students to follow and continued strong support for our program to the very end," McDermott added. "We will forever instill in our students Dean's strongest attributes. Dean is a big reason our Razorback athletic training family is so strong; everyone wants to help each other and give back when they can."

Weber has a history of inspiring others to make a positive impact.

In 2016, the 1979 Razorback Southwestern Conference football champion seniors decided to honor Weber - once their team trainer, but forever their friend - for his years of service and loyalty by creating the Weber Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship. Since then, 16 Master of Athletic Training students have received the scholarship, which is reserved for the program's top student each year.

Program Director Luzita Vela said former award winners are now providing healthcare services to patients and athletes across the United States, including with UAMS Sports Medicine, Stanford Children's Sports Medicine, Syracuse University, Tulane University, Atlanta Dream WNBA, Ole Miss University, the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization, Austin FC Major League Soccer and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Athletic training student Kinley Farriester received Weber's scholarship this academic year. She said the financial assistance has allowed her to focus on coursework and clinical rotations, where she gains hands-on experience in the field. But her appreciation for the scholarship goes beyond that.

"The legacy of Dean Weber has been a fantastic reminder to continue to build relationships and have an eagerness to learn, and it has helped further my love for the field of athletic training," she said. "He was a man who was extremely passionate about the field and had a deep love for all things Razorback. These are traits I hope to take with me throughout my career."

Robert Farrell was among the 14 seniors who created the endowed scholarship back in 2016. The former Razorback wide receiver said they came up with the idea to honor Weber while attending a reunion in Fayetteville.

"Dean once said the scholarship was one of the greatest honors of his life," Farrell said.

Farrell called it an "impossible task" to describe his mentor's far-reaching influence. "Dean wasn't just liked; he was loved. He was not only a friend to many but also a father and grandfather figure. He was just always there," he said.

Farrell said helping others was Weber's overall focus, and Weber knew that supporting athletic training students would continue the cycle. "The ripples just keep going out," Farrell said.

Weber was inducted into the U of A Sports Hall of Honor in 2000 and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. He is also a Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame member.

A celebration of his life will be held at 4 p.m. on April 13 inside Bud Walton Arena. The family has requested that memorial tributes be made to the college's Dean Weber Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship Fund.