Courtesy photo / Craig Bouslough (center) stands with former college roommate Chuck Sanders (left) and former Slippery Rock University football coach George Mihalik at the ceremony for Bouslough’s Distinguished Alumnus award.

A Roaring Spring native who became a leader in the physical therapy industry was recently honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Slippery Rock University.

Craig Bouslough graduated with a Bachelor of Science in health science in 1985 and returned to SRU to get his master’s in physical therapy in 1991.

A 1981 graduate of Central High School, Bouslough called the recognition a “pretty special award.”

“With all of the people who have graduated from Slippery Rock, this is a pretty special recognition and honor,” he said. “It is humbling to be recognized as someone who has distinguished themself.”

Bouslough’s son, Jackson, was on hand to present him with the award, which added to the special occasion.

Bouslough is a wonderful representative of the school, said Kelly Bailey, director of alumni engagement.

“As one of the first graduates of our physical therapy program, Craig went on to be an industry leader in his field,” she said. “The committee also noted his impressive record of community service, which is embedded in the culture at Drayer Physical Therapy, as well as a steadfast commitment to SRU Athletics.”

Bailey said the school is proud to recognize alumni who succeed on a professional level, while maintaining a strong connection to Slippery Rock.

Bouslough went to Slippery Rock on a football scholarship and became a two-year starter at cornerback.

He was recruited by legendary coach George Mihalik, who served as head coach at the school from 1988 to 2015. He was offensive coordinator during Bouslough’s playing days.

“I recruited Craig out of high school. He was what we were looking for: good athletically and academically,” Mihalik said. “We knew he would be here for four years … the kind of guy who could turn the program around.”

Mihalik said Bouslough had a great work ethic and was exceptional in several areas, including academics, the weight room, practices and games and in the community.

“He had an impact on the university in different areas and became very supportive of our mission and cause. His career in physical therapy is amazing,” Mihalik said.

Bouslough credits the late Tim Furman, with whom he later partnered at Blair Physical Therapy, for encouraging him to enter the field.

“He mentored me and pushed me to go to physical therapy school. I never would have got into the business if not for him,” Bouslough said.

Bouslough found physical therapy was the right field of study as it provided him with the opportunity to sub-specialize in sports medicine without spending four years in medical school and years in residency.

“What I enjoyed was the quality of time you get to spend with your patients,” he said. “I could make a difference. I recognized I could own my own business, too.”

Unfortunately, Furman died after the two were in partnership for six months. After his death, Bouslough ran and expanded the business, transitioning to Joyner Sports Medicine as a partner with Dave Joyner from 1994-97.

“Joyner Sports Medicine taught me how to be able to open up multiple facilities. I learned how to scale a business,” he said.

Bouslough became regional vice president and director of operations and operated the business until the end of the partnership in 2000.

Then, Bouslough took some time off to spend with his father, Richard, before he passed away, and then moved to Hershey in 2002 to start Drayer Physical Therapy with Luke Drayer.

The two thought they could build about 30 clinics, with Bouslough as chief operating officer and Drayer as CEO.

“Twenty years later, we had 190 clinics in 17 states,” Bouslough said. “Luke and I got to 175 active clinics before I retired in 2020.”

The time at Drayer, which also expanded into several southern states, was a great experience.

“Our business was heavy on culture, treating people with dignity and respect, the way they deserved to be treated,” Bouslough said. “We had little turnover of employees.”

The two worked to make the clinics part of the community and had local people operate them.

That concept, Bouslough said, “creates a model conducive to caring and separating it from similar businesses. It grew much larger than we expected it to grow.”

Following partnerships with Linden Capital and Goldman Sachs, the company merged with Revelstoke Capital in 2018 and Bouslough served as the chief development officer for more than 700 clinics in the U.S.

During his days at Joyner and Drayer, Bouslough was active in providing athletic trainers to area high schools.

“He has done more for high school athletes as far as kids recovering from serious injuries than anyone in the area,” said veteran high school coach John Franco, now head coach at Tyrone Area High School.

Franco said Bouslough came to the aid of Tyrone all-state fullback Mark Wyland in 1997 after he suffered an ACL injury at a Penn State camp.

“Penn State brought in their team doctor, he was going to do surgery to repair his ACL,” Franco recalled, but Wyland’s parents wanted another opinion.

“I called Craig, he said he could rehab it without surgery and he would be ready by Sept. 1,” Franco said.

Bouslough worked with Wyland on his rehab, which worked perfectly.

“He was 100 percent by the beginning of the season,” Franco said of Wyland. “That was a small example of what he did for so many athletes. He was better than anyone I had ever seen around to help athletes overcome injuries.”

More recently, Bouslough helped Central High School quarterback Jeff Hoenstine recover from a badly broken leg two years ago.

“He helped Jeff tremendously,” Jeff’s father, A.J. Hoenstine, said.

A member of the Central coaching staff, Hoenstine said Bouslough was with his son every step of the way as Jeff recovered from two surgeries.

“(Craig) meant a lot physically to Jeff but also meant a lot to him mentally,” Hoenstine said. “He has come back stronger than he ever was thanks to Craig.”

Athletic trainer Craig Sechler worked with Bouslough for several years at Drayer.

“He was not just a good physical therapist. Craig changed the industry; he took it beyond being a business, making and developing everlasting relationships with his patients,” Sechler said.

Bouslough, who has worked with many NFL and Penn State athletes, said he believes his success has come from wanting to help people.

While he transitioned from treating people to becoming a business owner and administrator, “my roots are in treating,” he said. “I still get calls from people to look at their children, which is humbling.”

Helping people get better and making a difference in the lives of his patients and in the community have been a blessing, he said.

“I hope I am remembered as someone who cared, gave back and wanted to make a difference,” said Bouslough, who not only developed local businesses, but helped build two schools and several clinics in Haiti and Jamaica.

He has been active as a Slippery Rock alumnus, serving on the National Championship Committee for football and recently helping to develop and fund the Sports Nutrition and Recovery Center at the Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. This program helps provide necessary nutrition and food supplements to athletes and is one of the few offerings among NCAA Division II teams in the country.

Bouslough credits his playing days for helping to develop his leadership and business abilities.

“I was a team captain,” he said. “It helped me become a leader in business and my career. I learned how to interact with other people and overcome adversity. They were some of the best days of my life, I built lifelong relationships.”

In addition to Furman, Bouslough said his father and high school football coach Harry Clarke were role models and mentors.

“Dad was kind and generous. He inspired me in many, many ways,” Bouslough said.

Football, Bouslough said, he learned from Clarke.

“To play quarterback for Harry Clarke, you had to know what everyone did,” he said. “I learned the game of football from Harry Clarke; he was so far ahead of his time.”

Bouslough fondly remembers growing up in Roaring Spring and said strong community support was important.

“It was a very safe community, neighbors looked out for their neighbors. Athletics were very strong because of community spirit,” he said.

Although officially retired, Bouslough is willing to provide help when needed.

“I love physical therapy. … It is a very fulfilling profession,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.