POINT PLEASANT — Mike Bartrum, a former longsnapper and tight end in the National Football League, was recently elected the newest member of the Pleasant Valley Hospital Board of Trustees, according to Alvin (Al) R. Lawson, JD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of the non-for-profit facility.

Bartrum now resides in Meigs County, Ohio with his wife, Jennifer, a physical therapist, and their four children, Cody Michael, 10; Zachary Fenton, nine; Ty Austin, five; and Taylor Catherine, three. Since his retirement from the NFL, Bartrum as become extremely active in community service.

“Mike will be a valuable addition to the Pleasant Valley Hospital Board of Trustees,” Lawson said. “His knowledge and experience as a business leader will benefit our organization. Most importantly, he had a great respect for our mission and values.”

Bartrum attended Meigs High School in Pomeroy, Ohio, then played college football at Marshall University. He was All-Southern Conference second team tight end in 1991 and first ream All-SEC in 1992, as well as second team All-American on The Sports Network that same season. His tight ends coach, Mark Gale, introduced him to the position of longsnapper, which propelled Bartrum into the National Football League.

Bartrum played for the Kansas City Chiefs (1993), Green Bay Packers (1995) and the New England Patriots (1996-1999) before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles (2000.) He was invaluable as the team’s longsnapper, but also filled in where needed. He handled kick-off duties in two games when David Akers was injured, which earned him a selection to the Pro Bowl after the 2005 season. In addition, in 2006 as the emergency quarterback after an injury to Donovan McNabb.

According to reports, in November 2006, Bartrum complained of neck pain after a game with the Indianapolis Colts. An MRI showed some bulging in one disc as well as a disc that was “herniated centrally and lying against the spinal cord.”

Bartrum was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season, but announced his retirement in June 2007.

Re-settled in Pomeroy, Bartrum has been instrumental in starting new programs including teaching at a Christian pre-school, organizing a youth flag football league in cooperation with the NFL and spearheading the charge to build a new football field and track facilities at Meigs High School. Additionally, he was just elected as Meigs County Commissioner.

“I am honored to be a member of the Pleasant Valley Hospital Board of Trustees in order to help advance health care opportunities in the tri-county area,” Bartrum said. “Through football, I learned the benefit of teamwork. By working together for the local communities we can look forward to many productive years ahead.”