Area men inducted into inaugural hall of fame

Two area outdoor enthusiasts were among those inducted into the 2022 Alabama Sport and Adventure Hall of Fame during the inaugural induction ceremony held Jan. 25 in Dothan.

Nick Ciuzio of Enterprise and James Bullinger of Level Plains were among 11 individuals and groups honored for what ASA founder Mike Schmitz called “dedicating their lives to their families and their communities, while also making time to live a healthy lifestyle through sports and adventure—everyday Alabamians who have made a positive impact in their communities by encouraging people to get active.”

The ASA Hall of Fame was created by Schmitz of Dothan, an avid outdoors enthusiast and an avid adventurer who has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, hiked to the first base camp of Mount Everest in the Himalaya mountain range, swam from Alcatraz to the Golden Gate Bridge in California and bicycled across the United States to raise money for the Wiregrass Children’s Home.

“Our community has extraordinary people that do incredible things but never get credit for it,” Schmitz said to those attending the inaugural ceremony held at the Dothan Civic Center. “One thing we know about the Wiregrass is that we have incredible, incredible people.

“We could compete with anyone in the world and you’re going to see that tonight,” Schmitz said. “Tonight we are going to celebrate our neighbors who have something on their heart to accomplish or do and it has changed and improved our community forever

“That’s what we are celebrating tonight,” he added. “This is a long time dream—and this is emotional for me.

“I was going into base camp on a Mount Everest climb when I had what they called an ‘incident’ which turned out to be a heart attack,” Schmitz said, adding that he spent a long time recovering in a hospital during the COVID pandemic, which created a lot of time without visitors. “I spent a lot of time talking to God.

“When you are in that situation you get a sense of urgency and that’s what tonight is. Tonight is something that I have wanted to happen for so many years,” he said. “This project has been on my heart for so many years.”

Schmitz was joined on the induction ceremony stage by his son and co-host Michael Schmitz and event emcee Dothan Municipal Court Judge Rose Gordon. Each of the honorees was awarded a medal.

Ciuzio is an engineering teacher at Enterprise High School. He is also an outdoor enthusiast turned mountain climber who successfully climbed Mount Denali in Alaska, which is called the most difficult of the seven summits.

“Denali was a big mountain which took a lot of preparation and a total commitment,” said Ciuzio. “I started climbing after I retired from industry in 2013 at the age of 53.

“Just recently I was able to climb Mount Denali. I had a successful climb but the problem with success is that when you reach it, you haven’t reached your potential,” he explained. “So until you hit that wall, until you find your limits, you want to continue to challenge yourself.

The “seven summits of the world” are the highest peaks on the seven continents. “Denali represented my first ‘seven summit’ challenge. What was beautiful about picking Denali first is that it is also one of the hardest.

“I think my goal, at this point, would be to continue with the ‘seven summits’ until I hit that wall, to continue to challenge myself until I reach my potential,” Ciuzio said. “The more you do for yourself and others the more you’ll want to just keep doing.”

The words he lives by, Ciuzio said, are, “Follow the process.”

“He’s exactly what I want to celebrate tonight,” Schmitz said to the capacity crowd as he pointed at Ciuzio.

Bullinger, a retired Army pilot, is a writer with Navigator Development Group Inc.’s Fixed Wing Technical Publications team. The avid hiker and former Level Plains councilman said he is working his way through his bucket list of adventures.

Bullinger has completed the Camino de Santiago in Spain, traveled to Ecuador, climbed the second and third highest volcano and has taken up high pointing—which is climbing the highest points in each of the 50 states.

“I started backpacking and climbing in high school in Northern California in the early 1970s,” Bullinger said, adding that after high school he enlisted in the Army for four years and then attended college. After receiving an Army commission Bullinger began military service as an Army pilot.

After being inspired by a film about the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Bullinger, at the age of 56, and his younger brother trained for—and completed—a 500-mile hike across Spain. “My first trip to Ecuador was in 2017 when I climbed Cayambe, the third highest volcano, at the age of almost 60.

“I turn 65 this year but I’m going to continue to work on my bucket list before I get too old, too tired,” Bullinger said adding that his hope is that his “Bama Hiker” YouTube videos inspire others to “become more active and attempt new challenges and live a fuller life.”

Other Hall of Fame inductees during the inaugural ASA event were:

• Joe Copeland, Charles Coggins and Bob Theune, who along with Mike Schmitz, completed a 3,000-mile cross country bike ride to raise over $100,000 for the Wiregrass Children’s home;

• Larry and Ronna Dykes, longtime members of the Dothan Road Runners, who have promoted running and helped area organizations raise money for charitable causes;

• Eddie Ray Hunt, Jr., a state powerlifting champion who holds an International powerlifting world record;

• Melinda McClendon and her son, Buck, who initiated the community project to create a ball field and park for children with special needs that has resulted in the Dothan Rotary Club Miracle Ball Park;

• Kim Meeker, a mountain bike rider who was instrumental in the development of the Westgate Tennis Center and the Dothan Forever Wild Trails;

• Dale Nash, who began competing in triathlons when he was 45, and has competed in 45 Ironman competitions;

• James Wells and the Southeast Alabama Mountain Bikers who were instrumental in the creation of the Forever Wild Trails and who continue to assist with trail maintenance;

• Troy Fountain and the Wiregrass Foundation who assisted the Forever Wild Trails program through grants; and,

• The 2011 Dothan Special Olympics Gold medal volleyball team who won the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, by going undefeated throughout the competition.