Army West Point Athletics
A Doctor With A Passion For Sports
August 26, 2008 | General
Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of stories profiling the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inductees, Class of 2008. Each week, goARMYsports.com will take a look at these outstanding athletes and their accomplishments, leading into the induction on Sept. 19.
Curt Alitz grew up at West Point, enjoying time on post as his father, LeRoy, worked in the Department of Physical Education and served as the wrestling coach.
Alitz liked it so much, he enrolled at the Academy and went on to his own athletic success as a member of the cross country, swimming and diving and track and field teams.
He also went to medical school and has returned to West Point as a physician at Keller Army Community Hospital where he works closely with the cadets and cadet-athletes.
It’s Alitz success in the pool and the track thought that will be celebrated in September.
A 12-time letterwinner, Alitz is among the 10 people that will be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2008 includes nine athletes and one coach. Former men’s basketball coach Bob Knight, as well as Mike Silliman (baseball and men’s basketball), Ron Shelton (pistol), George Clark (hockey), Ted Kanamine (men’s swimming), Arnold Tucker (football and basketball), Jose Olivero (lacrosse and men’s soccer), Alexis Albano (women’s soccer and track and field) and John Boretti (soccer, hockey and baseball) comprise the fifth class to be honored.
The 10 honorees will officially be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 19. A special afternoon plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Center, with the formal black-tie banquet set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army’s football game against Akron the next day at Michie Stadium with a special photograph and autograph session planned in Black Knights Alley prior to the contest.
The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army’s rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army’s massive football training facility.
In addition to the 10 Hall of Fame members to be honored in September, Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson will also present the Office of Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (ODIA) Distinguished Service Award to Gus Fishburne. Fishburne, a vital resource in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, has been a generous supporter of the United States Military Academy. His daughter, Holly, was a women’s soccer player while his son-in-law, Mark West, competed in sprint football. Both athletes graduated with the Class of 1991. His son, Gus Fishburne IV, graduated with the Class of 1994.
Alitz was always interested in being a doctor and working with athletes. He now does both as an orthopedic surgeon and is the team doctor for the swimming and diving, track and field, hockey, gymnastics and tennis teams and calls it a “dream assignment.”
His success as a cadet-athlete was impressive. Not only did he earn 12 letters, he was also on the Dean’s List all four seasons.
He was a seven-time All-American and is widely considered one of the finest runners to pass through the Academy. He earned three All-American certificates in outdoor track, two indoors and two in cross country.
Alitz captured three Heptagonal outdoor championships, including the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs in 1977 and the 10,000-meter in 1978. He garnered Heptagonal titles in cross country in 1976 and 1977 and remains one of just three Army runners to ever have copped two or more Heptagonal cross country titles, joining Richard Shea (three) and Arthur Truxes (two).
He was also a member of the swimming and diving team before turning his attention to medicine.
Catch Us Up On What You Have Been Doing Since Graduating: “I was one of the first graduate assistants and I stayed for two years, working with the track and field team. From there, I went to medical school at Duke and have been a physician in the Army since, spending most of my time at Fort Eustis and Fort Bragg.”
Reaction When Received Letter You Were Chosen: “I was completely surprised and had no thoughts of being inducted. I thought if anyone, it would be my dad (LeRoy who coached wrestling for 27 years and worked as Department of Physical Education instructor for 40 years). I was very honored and very surprised.”
Favorite Athletic Memory: “Even though I love to succeed at the national level, beating Navy was always the best. Beating Navy in swimming and track and field was probably the high point.”
Favorite West Point Memory: “I have two that come to mind. One of the most rewarding aspects of my time as a cadet was being a Sunday school teacher for four years. I got a tremendous amount of satisfaction from teaching the kids on post. The other involved my father. My dad was a wrestling coach and I was an endurance athlete and had to take wrestling, it was required for plebes. My dad wasn’t the instructor but I didn’t do particularly well and got pinned on numerous occasions I have a clear memory of getting pinned in wrestling phys ed, being slumped over in locker room, having dad walk in the locker room, shake his head and then just walk out.”
What Does It Mean To Be Inducted: "It’s just an incredible honor. I have seen the list of people inducted this year. To be inducted the same year as Bob Knights is an incredible honor. I grew up around West Point hearing Bob Knight stories so to be included in the same class is incredible.”
Who Had The Biggest Influence On Your Athletic Career: “My parents were incredible. They were incredibly generous in letting me do what I had an interest in doing. It was very clear I was going to do something but it would be something I wanted to do. My mom, as much as my dad, urged me to do my best and not do anything halfway. The desire to succeed and compete came from both of them.”
What’s The Biggest Difference At West Point Since You Were A Cadet: “I would say the biggest difference is that there isn’t a difference as far as the quality of cadets and athletes. Kids know they have a commitment, yet still sign up and want to succeed. They know there is something beyond this, something bigger and that’s service to the Army and the nation. It’s amazing how that hasn’t changed.”
Tickets for the event are available to the public and can be purchased by calling Army's External Operations Office at 845-938-2322. Proceeds will be directed to a fund that supports the daily care, maintenance and growth of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and Army Sports Hall of Fame.
