GAT Life Member

The Life Member Award is presented to GAT member(s) who have given a long period of outstanding service and accomplishment to the sport of gymnastics.

Rich Travino

2024 RICH TREVINO: Rich was a varsity baseball player and marching band member who started gymnastics in high school when his homeroom teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio, Texas, invited him to try a practice session in 1972. He enjoyed the strength challenges, the sense of flying, and the camaraderie of his teammates. His teammates took him to practice at the YMCA with Ruben Villalobos, and he quickly developed a passion for the sport. Soon after, he attended a local gymnastics school, Gueguen’s Gymnastics, where he began coaching in exchange for training. Fellow participant and Past GAT President Jack Hyman began a new club called San Antonio Gymnastics School (SAGS), and Rich transferred to his club. By his senior year in high school, Rich had quit the band and baseball to pursue gymnastics full-time.

Rich worked at three clubs while training at night. Throughout high school, he taught at many camps and clinics, including Texas Summer Gymnastics Camp from 1974 to 1981. He transferred to the University of Arizona gymnastics team in 1977; however, injuries took their toll. He then transferred to The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to coach with Life Member Pat Hamilton, who also owned Texas Summer Gymnastics Camp along with Life Members and mentors Pat and Nikki Yeager, Marcus Yancey, Mr. GAT, Brian Schenk, and Rudy Magdeleno.

The experience at Texas Summer Gymnastics Camp allowed him to work with many talented coaches and learn the history of the sport while developing a deep respect for the coaches who came before him when gymnastics was still very young. One lesson stayed with him from his time spent with Pat Yeager, the 1960 Olympic Games coach. Pat often said that he wanted to pass on to Rich, and others, the importance of “passing the torch to the next generation of coaches and athletes.” This message is one that Rich has tried to carry forward throughout his career.

While coaching at UTEP, Rich also worked with Pat Hamilton at his private club gym, Super Novas, training Level 10 athletes, elites, and world-class competitive tumblers. After the Olympic boycott of 1980, Pat left El Paso, and Rich became Head Coach of the university. He also started a Continuing Education team of local athletes and an age-group team from Juarez, Mexico.

While coaching, recruiting, traveling, and conducting camps and clinics throughout the country, including Muriel Grossfeld’s camp, Rich earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from UTEP, graduating in 1981. When Bela and Marta Karolyi defected in 1981, Pat Alexander connected with Bela and helped organize a traveling summer camp in 1982, with Rich serving on the Master Staff.

During the fifth week of the traveling camp, it made its way to Memphis, Tennessee. There, Rich met and fell in love with Marilyn, who would later become his wife of more than 40 years. She moved to El Paso, became the choreographer for UTEP, and coached the age-group teams as well.

Due to Title IX issues at the university, UTEP decided to discontinue its gymnastics program. In March 1983, Rich and Marilyn moved to Dallas to work with Kenny Vinyard at Gymnastics of Texas I (One) and its satellite gym in Lancaster, Texas, called Gymnastics of Texas 2. The club was small, and Kenny offered to sell them the satellite gym in June 1984. When Mary Lou Retton won the 1984 Olympics, their waiting list grew to a year and a half.

The gym expanded quickly from 6,000 sq. ft. to 9,000 sq. ft., and then to 12,000 sq. ft. During this time, they coached many champion athletes at the state, regional, national, and elite levels throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1997, they moved into their 20,000 sq. ft. facility, where they hosted many successful competitions, including an 18-year run of the Carol Hilgenberg Invitational. The club became known for bringing a new level of entertainment to meets through costumed characters, skits, and highly decorated themed competitions.

Trevino’s program was among the first to introduce Sports Acro in Texas, helping grow the sport beginning in 2000. They welcomed many international visitors to their gym, including world champions, a Welsh team, and Mexican clubs, exchanging ideas and techniques over the decades.

They were fortunate to take many international trips with their athletes to train, lecture, and share knowledge. One memorable experience was a three-week driving trip from Frankfurt, Germany, through Vienna, Austria, Romania, Budapest, and back, training with various clubs at the invitation of the Hungarian National Team. Another was a 10-day trip to Moscow, Russia, where they stayed at Dynamo Club and toured the historic gyms of the era. Additional trips included England and Wales, Portugal, and Spain.

Rich also served on several state boards, including USAG Texas, the American Gymnastics Association, and the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation. In June 2006, he was recognized by the Texas State Board for his years of service and for being “an Ideal Role Model for Youth.”

Throughout the years, they have seen many athletes come through the program and go on to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, nurses, and successful professionals in many fields. Many have also continued to “pass the torch” by becoming coaches and gym owners across the country. Rich and Marilyn have now passed that torch to their own children, who continue in their footsteps. Their message to future generations remains simple: “Please continue to pass the torch!”

This marks Rich’s 52nd year of coaching gymnastics, as well as his 40th year of marriage to Marilyn and operating Trevino’s Gymnastics School in Lancaster, Texas. They have two children. Their son, Richard, has directed the Trampoline and Tumbling program at the gym for more than 20 years, producing elite athletes, numerous national champions, and traveling internationally as both a coach and mentor. Their daughter, Katelyn, is a highly accomplished athlete who earned SEC Athlete of the Year honors while competing on scholarship at the University of Missouri. She holds two master’s degrees, owns a mental health business serving gymnasts, operates her own clothing line, is a published author, and helps lead the artistic gymnastics program at the gym.

One of Rich’s greatest joys has been building a family business that allows them to work together every day while watching their children grow into successful coaches and leaders. Together, they have traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and beyond through Trevino’s Gymnastics School.

One of his proudest moments came in 2009 when he and Marilyn were able to coach both of their children at national championship events in the same season. Richard competed as a Senior Elite Trampoline athlete at the USA Championships, while Katelyn qualified to Junior Olympic Level 10 Nationals.



Several years later, Rich had the unique privilege of standing on the competition floor coaching both the Trampoline and Tumbling team and the Artistic team alongside his children at the same meet.

This award is a tremendous honor, and Rich is proud to share it with all of you. He only wishes he could also share this moment with those who helped shape his journey and have since passed away.

FULL LIST OF LIFE MEMBERS

Leslie Patterson - Elected 2023

Tony Walker - Elected 2022

Jim Culhane - Elected 2021

 JT Fletcher - Elected 2021

Juergen Achtermann - Elected 2019

Ginger Arons - San Angelo, TX - Elected 1988

Jamille "Jay" Ashmore - Plano TX - Elected 1979

Nadeane Barber (Deceased, 1982) - Refugio, TX - Elected 1974

Gerald Bartosh - Houston, TX - Elected 1991

John Basel - 2018

Tammy Biggs – Elected 2006

Beau Biron Houston, TX - beau@birongym.com - Elected 1987

Billy Booth - Dallas TX - Elected 1998

Dr. Edsel Buchanan - Omaha NB - Elected 1981

Diane Callison - Elected 2015

Nard Cazzell (Deceased, 1999) - Amarillo TX - Elected 1971

Dr. William Cornelius - Denton TX - Elected 1995

Robert Cowan - Carmel IN - Elected 1984

Bee Crenshaw (Deceased, 2018) - Elgin TX - Elected 1987

Dr. W.A. "Bill" Crenshaw (Deceased, 1996) - Elgin TX - Elected 1968

Scott Crouse – Elected 2008

Jim Culhane - Elected 2021

Ralph Dykeman (Deceased, 1986) - Amarillo TX - Elected 1969

Gil Elsass - Austin TX - Elected 1999

Tim Erwin – Elected 2005

Pat Ethredge – Elected 2005

Bob Finch - Spring TX - Elected 1989

JT Flectcher - Elected 2021

Bill Foster – Elected 2006

Beth Gardner - Elected 2014

Lester "Griff" Griffin (Deceased, 1977) - Dallas TX - Elected 1970

Brandy Haney - Round Rock TX 2002

Jeanette Hawkins iDeceased, 2017) - McAllen TX - Elected 1977

Fillmore "Fill" Hendrix (Deceased, 2021) - Austin TX - Elected 1980

Walter Hosek (Deceased, 2004) - Dallas TX - Elected 1972

Avis Tieber Jamieson - Carrollton TX - Elected 1989

Cheryl Jarrett - Round Rock TX - Elected 1996

Jim “Jimbo” Jarrett - Round Rock TX 2001

James Jeffers (Deceased, 2020) - Elected 2016

Frank Kudlac – Elected 2011

Gregg Larimer – Elected 2007

Rudy Magdaleno (Deceased, 2001) - Alvin TX - Elected 1997

Bettye Martin - Parker TX - Elected 1986

Kevin Mazeika – Elected 2011

Lawrence "Larry" McDonough (Deceased, 2015) - Elected 2015

Jim McKinney - Abilene, TX - Elected 1992

Emil J Milan (Deceased, 2016) - Hurst TX - Elected 1976

Jerry Milan - Fort Worth TX - Elected 1976

Rome Milan - Elected 2009

Martha Mitchell - Odessa TX - Elected 1990

Hideo "Mizo" Mizoguchi - Elected 2017

Kevin Muenz – Elected 2008

Dr. Garland O'Quinn - El Paso TX - Elected 1983

Michael "Mike" Osborn (Deceased, 2009) - Abilene, TX - Elected 1995

Ralph Reeves (Deceased, 2010) - Richardson TX - Elected 1981

Cori Rizo – Elected 2013

Bob Sanderson - Abilene, TX - Elected 1998

Brian Schenk (Deceased, 2015) - Austin TX - Elected 1978

Dr. Darlene Schmidt - San Marcos TX - Elected 1982

Mark Sherman – Elected 2012

E. A. "Pop" Snapp (Deceased, 1981) - Houston, TX - Elected 1973

Lorna Spellman – Elected 2010

Alan Streeter – (Deceased, 2005) Elected 2007 (posthumously)

Sandy Streeter - Dallas TX - Elected 1993

Charles Teas (Deceased, 2022) - Corpus Christi TX - Elected 1994

Annette Robert Thomas - Elected 2015

Jack Tillinghast Kanab UT - Elected 1990

Jodie Trncak – Elected 2010

William "Bill" Valentine - Terlingua TX - Elected 1985

Todd Vesely – Elected 2009

Tony Walker - Elected 2022

James White (Deceased, 1997) - Bedford TX - Elected 1985

Debbie Williams - Bedford TX 2003

Mark Williams (Deceased, 2009) - Bedford TX 2004

Bill Willis - Dallas TX - Elected 1980

Marcus Yancey - Pflugerville TX 2000

Nikki Yeager LaBelle - FL - Elected 1991

Patrick "Pat" Yeager (Deceased, 1994) - Naples FL - Elected 1975

Ben Zickefoose - Abilene, TX - Elected 1988

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