Bruce Maurer, associate director of Recreational and Intramural Sports at Ohio State, has found a love for not only the Buckeyes, but for outdoor adventures.

“He truly is a unique and exciting person to be around. I would call him my father but more importantly my best friend. His love for outdoor sports is so extreme,” said Craig Maurer, his son.

Bruce Maurer found his love for outdoor sports when he got involved with Boy Scouts. Before ending his Boy Scout years, he earned one of the top honors and became an Eagle Scout.

“My experience in the Boy Scouts got me interested in the outdoors, and later my son became interested also, so it was something we could do together and as a family,” Bruce Maurer said.

He has worked at the university for 31 years and is working on the new Adventure Recreational Center on West Campus, scheduled to open in May 2004. An outdoor recreational center is also being planned for West Campus.

Over the years, Bruce Maurer has acquired many hobbies. He worked as a high school basketball and football official for 32 years and was an NFL official for 15 years.

“I was very fortunate to go to a great deal of games when he worked in the NFL,” Craig Maurer said. “For two games I got to stand on the sidelines, and the last game he worked I was able to meet Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James. It was pretty neat.”

Bruce Maurer started officiating touch football at the University of Illinois while in school. He then came to OSU for his doctorate degree and officiated touch football again. He became interested in officiating high school football after his experience at OSU.

Bruce Maurer reaches for the stars in everything he does – not just football. He has gone on 18 white-water rafting trips across the United States, with his most recent hobby being rock climbing and joining the Highpointers Club.

“I enjoy learning new things,” Bruce Maurer said. “There is no guarantee that I will be successful, but it helps me set goals for myself and keeps me feeling young.”

As a member of the Highpointers Club, Maurer participates in climbing the highest peaks in every state in the United States. He has already completed 19 states and is planning another climbing trip on Veterans Day.

“Bruce is steadily progressing towards this goal. He realizes that some of the peaks might be out of his reach because of the danger involved, but still blows away most men his age and what they would or could do,” said Jimmy Francis, student athletic assistant at OSU.

Bruce Maurer has rafted on rivers including the Main Salmon River in Idaho, the New River in West Virginia and the Colorado River in Colorado.

“I remember my son Craig and I rafting the Colorado. We camped overnight in the Grand Canyon. It was so hot that we had to be on the river by 8 a.m. because the heat was unbearable,” Bruce Maurer said.

Humphrey’s Peak has been Maurer’s favorite adventure. The peak is the tallest mountain in Arizona and is located just north of Flagstaff, Ariz.

“It’s such a charge to work so hard to get to the top for the reward of seeing such beautiful scenery,” Bruce Maurer said. “When we got to the top we looked down into the Grand Canyon and when we looked to the north we saw right into downtown Flagstaff. It was amazing.”

Bruce Maurer has taught classes at OSU and supervised graduate students during their assistantships.

“I began working with Bruce two years ago. He was my supervisor for my graduate assistantship for outdoor facility management,” Francis said. “I have talked with Bruce on countless occasions and he has more enthusiasm than anyone I have ever talked to regarding the outdoors.”

Part of Bruce Maurer’s job is overseeing all the recreational centers and making sure they are running smoothly.

He oversees about 75 acres and 20 different recreational facilities at OSU.

Maurer received his bachelor’s degree in physical education at the University of Illinois in 1969, his master’s degree in physical education at the University of Washington in 1970, and a doctorate degree in sports management at OSU in 1972.

Craig said he will always remember what his dad said to him when they were on an adventure trip.

“In life some people strive for personal possessions, I would rather have a lot of great experiences,” he said.