Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME DR. LES BODNAR: 1916-2014 Dr. Leslie Bodnar, Notre Dame's orthopedic surgeon for student- athletes from 1949-85 and its director of sports medicine from 1976-85 when he was the team physician, died Dec. 17 in South Bend at age 98. One of the most renowned sports physicians nationally, Bodnar may have had his "sig- nature moment" at Notre Dame in the 35-34 Cotton Bowl victory versus Houston on Jan. 1, 1979. Bodnar had packed chicken soup for the game to help treat starting offensive tackle Tim Fol- ey's influenza, but at halftime he heated it up for quarterback Joe Montana, who was suffering from hypothermia in the freez- ing conditions. After missing most of the third quarter while warming up in the locker room, Montana returned to action and helped rally the Irish from a 34-12 deficit with just 7:37 left, throwing a touchdown pass as time elapsed, followed by kicker Joe Unis' winning extra point. A 1939 graduate of the University of Illinois, where he also com- pleted his medical degree, Bodnar served as an orthopedic surgeon in the United States Army from 1943-46 and upon completion of his residency, he established his private practice of orthopedic surgery in South Bend in 1947. That practice evolved into what is now known as the South Bend Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Clinic. Beginning nearly 60 years ago, Bodnar conducted numerous sports medicine conferences around the country for coaches and athletic trainers, and his leadership and vision were significant factors toward the original formalization of relationships between professional orthopedic and national athletic entities such as the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Even in his final years, Bodnar authored two books, Carnie (2010) and Sports Medicine, Notre Dame (2014). 2015 Notre Dame Football Packages Sept. 5 Texas Sept. 19 Georgia Tech Sept. 26 UMass Oct. 10 Navy Oct. 17 USC Nov. 14 Wake Forest A Notre Dame trip makes A GREAT GIFT: Birthday, Father's Day, Graduation, Christmas, Retirement All details at diamondtravel.com or call 602-870-9197 DIAMOND TRAVEL 27 years in business ND Golf BaG Blue & Gold Illustrated PO Box 2331 • Durham, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 www.BlueGoldOnline.com Please add sales tax if shipping to: NC (7.5%), MI (6%), or IN (7%) Free dIVot tool set W/PURCHASE oF BaG! $21.95 Value! Item #6483 VICtORy CARt BAG New Item! $ 249 95 FREE S&H Bodnar served as Notre Dame's orthopedic surgeon for student- athletes from 1949-85 and its director of sports medicine from 1976-85. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS