HANS KRAUS, M.D. 11/28/05 - 3/6/96
was the associate professor (emeritus) of clinical physical medicine and rehabilitation at the New York University Medical College, New York City, until he retired in 1973. He graduated from the University of Vienna Medical School, where he also took postgraduate training. Dr. Kraus was national chairman of the medical committee for the YMCA's exercise program for back pain, medical consultant to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and was personal physician to President John F. Kennedy. In 1980, he received the Distinguished Service Award of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, presented to him by Ronald Reagan. Patients in his private practice included Eleanor Roosevelt, Katherine Hepburn, Yul Brynner, Rita Hayworth, Angela Lansbury, Paul Newman, Danny Kaye, Arthur Godfrey, Robert F. Kennedy and the skier Billy Kidd who said that Dr. Kraus' program made it possible for him to win an Olympic gold medal. Recognized as the father of sports medicine in the United States, he was the author of numerous scientific articles and books on musculoskeletal and athletic injuries.

ALEXANDER MELLEBY, M.S.
was the National Director of the "Y's Way to a Healthy Back" program and served in this capacity from 1976 until 1986. He received his M.S. in 1972 from Hunter College in New York City and was awarded a number of honors for his work with the YMCA. Under his supervision, over 4,000 instructors in the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan were trained in this exercise program. He was responsible for conducting a study of the impact of the program on almost 12,000 people. The results of the study showed that at least 80% of those who completed the program, including post-operative surgical cases, achieved either a total elimination of back pain or considerably reduced their back pain to the extent that enabled them to perform many physical activities that they were previously unable to execute. He is the author of the book, "The Y's Way To A Healthy Back," which was published in four languages.