LIFEFORCE AWARDS Relentlessly Rocking for Rugby and Chiropractic and how the players were in fact receiving scholarships to play rugby for the university. Still not knowing anything about Chiropractic, Dr. Rock was interested in the idea of receiving a scholarship to play rugby with Life U. He was invited to the Life U campus for the first time to participate in an exhibition rugby match, where he remembers thinking “I had to see if I could even compete with these guys.” Afterwards, having missed the campus tour, Dr. Rock gave himself a self-guided tour of the Life University campus. There was a distinct moment where he found himself walking across the bridge that overlooks campus, having a peaceful feeling of clarity wash over him that led to the realization: “Oh, I guess I’m supposed to be a chiropractor.” At age 29, Dr. Rock received a scholarship to play rugby at Life U and would begin his studies in the chiropractic program. “Because I was older, my discipline was much different,” he says, describing the system he adopted during his chiropractic coursework that led him to success as a student-athlete. Dr. Rock said that opposing rugby teams would ask for adjustments after matches against the Life U squad. He jokingly describes being initiated into a “no fear” school of Chiropractic due to always having willing bodies to be worked on. “We figured, how could we hurt someone who we just spent beating the snot out of on a rugby field for 80 minutes?” After graduating from the chiropractic program at Life U, Dr. Rock and his wife Patti moved back to Texas where he would open his own chiropractic practice. Over the years, Dr. Rock has had repeated experiences that affirm the healing power of Chiropractic. “Everybody that comes into my office understands the organic impact of a chiropractic adjustment.” He viewed his professional journey as one where he realized, “the impact that Chiropractic can have on somebody’s health and well-being.” Since having opened Rock Chiropractic in 1996, Dr. Rock’s practice has been educating and adjusting the spines of families in the central Texas area, while helping them achieve optimal health through chiropractic care. Dr. Rock continues to give back to the Rugby community through scholarships and having a local club team in Round Rock, Texas. Additionally, Rock Chiropractic now is home to a 5,000 sq. ft. athletic center and rugby pitch. His efforts to popularize and make the sport of rugby more accessible have come to fruition in the form of the Paul McCartney Scholarship at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and operating a non-profit organization that specializes in youth rugby for boys and girls. Dr. Rock credits Dr. Sid E. Williams for the phenomenal idea of attracting individuals to the university for different reasons — in his case, rugby — to ultimately bring them into the world of Chiropractic. He has continuously used his knowledge and experience to share his passions of rugby and Chiropractic with others. It is no surprise that he is the deserving recipient of this year’s ‘Will Not Stop’ LIFEforce Award. Dr. Paul “Rock” McCartney’s path into the world of Chiropractic was one marked by different chapters that ultimately led him to attend Life University and represent them on the rugby pitch. Originally from Allatoona, Pennsylvania, Dr. Rock received a scholarship for Track & Field to Slippery Rock University, but transitioned to rugby soon thereafter. In 1984, he graduated from Slippery Rock with a degree in Administration of Occupational Health & Management. After deciding to move to Texas in search of new opportunities, Dr. Rock began working for the Texas Department of Health and operated a weightlifting gym in Galveston. In addition to his work, he continued playing rugby for various teams in Texas. Later, at a rugby tournament in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he would become acquainted with Life U by hearing of the mystique surrounding their renowned rugby team. “Everybody was talking about how good the team was,” Dr. Rock recalls the chatter surrounding Life U’s rugby program at the time. “They were incredibly good and had players from all over the world.” After the tournament, Dr. Rock took it upon himself to speak with Coach Terrance Titus who informed him more about Life U Dr. Paul “Rock” McCartney LIFEforce ‘Will Not Stop’ Award “Everybody that comes into my office understands the organic impact of a chiropractic adjustment.” 24 Alumni.life.edu | 2023