Hal Bullock – From Cop To Chiropractor

By Sherrie Norris

Most who find their way to his office today know that his work as a revered chiropractor helps take the hurt away. But Hal Bullock is no stranger to making things better for everyone. He spent several years in law enforcement in an effort to improve the way of life for his fellowman but felt a call to “adjust” his efforts toward individuals suffering from physical pain, thus trading in his uniform for an activator, his main tool of the chiropractic trade.

Hal Bullock spent several years in law enforcement before becoming a chiropractor. Photo by Mark Mitchell

A devout Christian man, Bullock tells us his career pathway took a turn after months of praying about his future and feeling the need for more continuity in scheduling and quality time with his family – certainly opportunities that law enforcement could not afford.

“My wife, Ruth, and I were both praying about what I should be doing. The Lord impressed upon us independently, with no discussion between us, that I should go to chiropractic school.” Off the family went to Davenport, Iowa where they lived for the next four years while Hal studied at Palmer College of Chiropractic The Bullocks returned to Boone, where now his office is located in Living Water Church, across from the Wellness Center. “Our church looks at my business as an extension of the healing ministry of our church.”

Bullock “enjoys” being able to make a difference and being used as an instrument of healing, stressing that life for everyone is better without pain.

In his early years, Bullock had several friends who were cops and encouraged him to consider joining them in law enforcement. “It seemed the right thing to do at the time,” as evidenced by a high score he received in a career planning and placement test he took. “Law enforcement was number three; military officer was number one and chiropractor, number two.”

Bullock’s current resume is quite impressive, depicting a wide variety of interests and abilities through the years including owning a construction business before law enforcement piqued his interest. In the seventies, Bullock received his BS Political Science from East Carolina University and later studied Pre-med at both Western Piedmont Community College and Appalachian State University. Heading into the NC Justice Academy, Bullock prepared for the next few years as a police officer in Boone, ready to face the unexpected -from investigating capital crime to fatal automobile accidents to helping a lost child find his or her parents, to speaking to a class of school age kids, to directing traffic. “The primary responsibility was to keep the peace, with one of the key skills required being the ability to communicate with and relate to people from all walks of life.”

He recalls one of his most memorable nights on patrol was the night of his first car chase, starting on King Street, stretching into Tennessee and back across the North Carolina line. “I had just watched the video ‘Cops in Hot Pursuit’ and in the video was one segment with an officer in training in a chase; his training officer said over and over again, “Don’t get too close . . . He is going to wreck. Do not let him wreck you.” This quote was running through my head for the entire 19 mile chase and the suspect did end up in ditch off the side of the road. Fortunately, I was far enough back to avoid crashing, as well.”

In the late ‘90’s, Bullock’s pathway took him from his daily beat back to his interest in medicine and healing. At the Palmer College, he became a Clinical Teaching Assistant for the school’s clinics, was vice- president and later president of the Activator Club before moving back to The High Country and opening High Country Chiropractic, initially located in Foscoe.

A major benefit of Bullock’s career change has been for his daughter Emily. “While I was in chiropractic school, she developed asthma, so bad at one point that she was hospitalized. Once I was far enough along in school that I could start adjusting her on a regular basis the asthma symptoms went away. Before regular adjustments, she was using an inhaler two to three times per week, then two to three times per year. She does not use one at all now, and is able to play soccer and run the entire game.”

With family as the center of his life, Bullock is a major proponent of home schooling. Ruth is the main instructor, with Hal teaching science. “Home school has been a real blessing and also gives us more time as a family. It removes the girls from the sometimes less than positive influence of the public school setting.”

Another facet of this man is his love for sports cars and racing. “The first car I bought was a Trimuph TR 6. My primary race car was a 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R that I ran in the local autocross series. I also raced a1998 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS in the Beech Mountain Hill Climb, sponsored by John Cook Subaru and Subaru of America. I have won my car class in the Beech Mountain race and raced in several Sports Car Club of America events.” Bullock was the 1998 autocross state champion in his class.

Bullock enjoys reading and searching the internet in pursuit of his latest interest – trading currency, “a great business opportunity,” introduced by a a successful friend helping him learn the ropes.

Bullock stays physically active through walking, swimming and hiking with Ruth and daughters, Elizabeth and Emily (twins, nearing their 15th birthdays), and Danielle, 12.

Active in his church, Bullock is an usher and is still a reserve officer for Beech Mountain Police Department.

For more information about his chiropractic services, contact him at (828) 963-7675 or email docactivator@yahoo.com