Edwin Bradford Lane

Edwin "Eddie" Bradford Lane, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, athletic trainer, mentor, and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 31, 2026, in Granbury, Texas, at the age of 96. He was born on February 3, 1929, in Toledo, Ohio, to Edwin Bradford Lane and Louise Katherine Miller.

Eddie married the love of his life, Dallis Jane Lane, in 1958, beginning a partnership that spanned more than six decades. Together they raised two children, Stephanie and Brad, and built a life rooted in family, curiosity, and service to others.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Alan "Skip" Lane; and his sisters, Judy and Joyce.

Eddie is survived by his wife, Jane Lane; his daughter, Stephanie Eidson; his son, Brad Lane, and daughter-in-law Debbie; and his cherished grandchildren, who knew him as the best "Pappaw": Marti (Eidson) Rosche and husband Greg, Maggi (Eidson) Seidler and husband Brandon, Eddie Lane, Katie Lane and partner Bree Cornell, and Emma (Lane) Ross and husband Robbie. He was also the proud great-grandfather of Colin, Catherine, Lane, and Clinton. Eddie is further survived by his sister-in-law, Janice Lane (wife of Skip), and many loving nieces and nephews.

Eddie's love for athletic training began in 1945 at Waite High School in Toledo, Ohio-and from there, he never slowed down. He attended Southern Methodist University before serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, where he was assigned as head physical therapist for 14 months with the 109th Field Hospital in Salzburg, Austria.

After his military service, Eddie returned to SMU, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 and his master's degree the following year. What followed was a groundbreaking career that helped shape the athletic training profession itself. He served as head trainer and physical education instructor at North Texas State University, then as head trainer at Washington State University, before returning to SMU from 1960 to 1972-educating, mentoring, and caring for generations of student-athletes while helping define what modern athletic training would become.

A passionate advocate and true pioneer, Eddie spoke before the Texas House of Representatives in 1970 in support of athletic trainer licensing legislation. Texas became the first state to pass such a law in 1971, setting a national precedent. Eddie later served as both a director and vice president of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, he was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1977 and named a charter member of the Southwest Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 1985. He was the last living founding member of the NATA from 1955 and its only 75-year member, a milestone celebrated last summer in Orlando that reflected not only his longevity but the generations of athletic trainers he mentored.

Eddie's expertise and reputation extended far beyond the classroom and sidelines. He served as an Olympic Athletic Trainer for the United States, working with wrestling teams at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games and with international volleyball during the 1996 Olympics. He also served as an athletic trainer for the World Championship of Tennis and the Davis Cup. These experiences became some of his most treasured-and frequently retold-stories, shared with pride, humor, and just enough detail to make you feel like you were there.

His impact also reached into Texas high school athletics. Eddie was one of the first four athletic trainers for Dallas ISD in 1972 and later served as athletic trainer at Irving High School beginning in 1982. He retired in 1993 and settled in Granbury, drawn by his deep love for the Brazos River and the outdoors.

Though born in Ohio, Eddie was a Texan at heart. He explored the state extensively, famously walking from the tip of the Texas Panhandle to Granbury with writer Jon McConal for the book A Walk Across Texas, and later driving more than 4,200 miles across the state for Bridges Over the Brazos. If there was a road, a bridge, or a body of water, Eddie probably had a story about it-and a strong opinion to go with it.

Eddie never met a stranger and never ran out of stories. He loved travel, fishing, a good meal, a good book, woodworking, and being outdoors-especially on the lake. He attended every family function, sporting event, and athletic training conference he could. He brought a fun-loving, sarcastic wit that put people at ease and made everyone feel welcome. He was a longtime member of the Granbury Opera Guild and a daily fixture at the Granbury YMCA, always finding new ways to stay active and prove that slowing down simply wasn't his style.

To his grandchildren, Eddie was more than "Pappaw"-he was their biggest fan, personal athletic trainer, and steady voice of confidence. He shared a unique bond with each of them, knowing exactly when to offer advice, encouragement, or a well-timed joke. Whether taping ankles before a game, prescribing exercises for an injury, or calmly talking them through setbacks, he was always just one phone call away. His presence on the sidelines and in their lives was constant, reassuring, and deeply personal-and each grandchild knew, without question, that Pappaw was in their corner and beyond proud of them.

Eddie lived fully, led generously, and left every place-and every person-better than he found them. On a quiet fishing trip with his granddaughter, he once said that if he believed in reincarnation, he'd like to come back as a heron so he could fish every day. Today, his family likes to imagine that he's found that stillness in heaven-and that whenever a heron lifts from the reeds, it's a gentle reminder of Eddie, at peace, fishing once again. His legacy lives on in the family he loved, the athletes he cared for, and the generations of athletic trainers he inspired.

The family would like to thank Peggy Johnson, Tommy and Becky Doyle, and Alpha and Omega Hospice for their love, care, and support.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 606 Mockingbird Lane, Weatherford, Texas. All are welcome to come share stories, laughter, and memories-just as Eddie would have wanted.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Eddie Lane Legacy Scholarship

SWATA

1079 W. Round Grove Rd., STE 300-237

Lewisville, TX 75067