A soldier, a veteran, a husband, a father, a medical provider, a teacher, a religious man; these are only a few of the ways a man may choose to occupy his short time on this Earth.  Keith “Doc” Fitzpatrick in his eighty plus years absorbed himself with all of these.  From his service in the Navy during World War II to the 50 plus years he worked as a physical therapist and athletic trainer in Mitchell and Parkston “Doc” Fitz gave of himself for the benefit of all those around him.

Keith “Doc” Fitzpatrick was a pioneer in his professions as an Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist in the state of South Dakota.  For some 50 years “Doc” Fitz treated and cared for numerous athletes for Mitchell High, the surrounding Mitchell communities, and from around the entire state.  His numerous years of service earned “Doc” Fitz the unofficial title of the “father of athletic training” for the state of South Dakota.  He established one of the first high school student athletic training programs in South Dakota; of which several of his former student trainers pursued some type of medical careers.

For decades “Doc” Fitz” was the only athletic trainer present to treat athletes at a variety of South Dakota High School Activities Association state events. 

A graduate of Sioux City Trinity High, Morningside College and the University of Iowa Physical Therapy School, Fitzpatrick started his athletic training career with the Sioux City Soos baseball team from 1950-53.  He then served as a physical therapist in Omaha for one year prior his relocation to Mitchell.  “Doc” Fitz moved to Mitchell in 1955 when he became the Chief Physical Therapist at St. Joseph Hospital; from 1957 to 1970 he served as the head athletic trainer for Notre Dame High School.  Upon Notre Dame High School closure in 1970 “Doc” Fitz became the head athletic trainer at Mitchell High School from 1970 to 1992.  In 1992 “Doc” Fitz became the assistant athletic trainer at MHS while he balanced his time between his work as a full-time physical therapist at Parkston’s St. Benedicts Hospital and MHS.  “Doc” Fitz remained an active member of the MHS Sports Medicine team even as his age progressed into the 80’s.  In his 50 years of service the quantity of athletes treated, athletic events attended, and the miles traveled to sporting events numbers in the thousands.  “Doc” Fitz worked long enough to provide athletic care for three generations of some Mitchell area athlete’s families.

Many measure personal successes by the awards and accolades one receives in their lifetime and Keith “Doc” Fitzpatrick received numerous awards:  induction into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, Mid American Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, South Dakota Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame, and the South Dakota Physical Therapists Hall of Fame just to name a few.  Even through all of these recognitions and awards banquets “Doc” Fitz never felt comfortable having others celebrate what he considered just doing his job.  “Doc” Fitz loved his family, loved his work, loved the Kernels, but most of all loved the interactions with all the young athletes he treated over the years.  He will be greatly missed.