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| Bob was born in Wichita, Kansas and graduated from the University of Texas
at Arlington (B.A. in Pre-Law). He holds a M.S. in Sports Management from
the University of Tennessee. He's also a quadruple amputee. On January
7, 1979, he lost limbs below the elbow and above the knee, due to a rare
blood disease called Meningococcemia, which is a rare form of meningitis.
On October 4, 1979, he met and was blessed by Pope John Paul II. In the 10
years of playing quad rugby he was won 5 US Quad Rugby National
Championships with the Lakeshore Demolition of Birmingham, AL and won 3
medals playing rugby for Team USA. A Gold ('99 World Wheelchair
Games), one Sliver (World Championships), and one Bronze (2004 Paralympics).
For 7 years he has worked at the Lakeshore Foundation, an official US
Olympic and Paralympics Training Site, as Coordinator of Athletics.
Bob's two motto in life: |
Bob is one of the stars of a new documentary in theaters now:
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Directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro
Murderball is the original term for what is now called Quad Rugby. It is Rugby played on a Basketball court in wheelchairs by quadriplegics. Most people would think that Rugby is a quick way to become a quadriplegic. The athletes that play this sport already have broken necks, so they figure what’s the worst that could happen. Murderball tells the story of these men who play Quad Rugby on the international competition level. Every four years following the Olympics, the Paralympic games begin. These "disabled" athletes compete in such sports as swimming, track and rugby. There is no other dominant team in the world than the U.S. Quad Rugby team. They are they Lance Armstrong’s of wheelchair sports. They have been ranked #1 in the world for over 12 years and show little sign of slowing down. The wheelchairs used in this sport look like something straight out of a Mad Max movie. They are custom built chairs meant to withstand brutal force. Players slam into each other and even knock each other out of them. There is a fearless element to these warriors; nothing can hurt them any more than what they’ve been through. |
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