Robert "Bob" Rynearson was an early pioneer of and advocate for the sport of wheelchair basktball in it's early days post World War II. He personally had gone up against the Veterans Administration to allow that organization to include wheelchair sports as part of the rehabilitation of disabled Veterans who were stationed in various Veterans Administration Hospitals. Being from Southern California, he in fact fought for these programs at the Birmingham VA (later known as Long Beach VA) and the Corana VA center, where he was employed as a Recreational Therapist.

Bob was turned down several times in his quest to have the VA provide funding and interest in such programs. His determination and his positive attitude proved the VA Medical and Administrative Directors wrong. The VA at first did not want any part of the "rehab process" that would include any type of sports. Bob took his fight all the way to Washington where he finally did get permission to start such programs at the Birmingham and Corana VA hospital centers. He organized the FIRST EVER GAME between two VA Teams in 1945. In addition he wrote the first set of rules for the game. These rules, which at times were written and re-written, were the basis of the rules adopted by the NWBA in it's formation.

As word traveled throughout the VA System, other facilities across the United States adapted sports programs accordingly. These centers included the Cardinal Cushing VA in Boston, Hines in Chicago, St.Albans, Bronx and Hallaron VA centers in NY. We know that the New England Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) has been noted to have had the first wheelchair basketball game between 2 wards in the center, but it was Rynearson's efforts that made that happen.

In addition, Bob was the pioneer of the "Flying Wheels" barnstorming tours that helped promote Wheelchair Basketball around the country. It was through his efforts and labor that the Hearst Newspaper Corporation sponsored the "Flying Wheels". The team, which was made up of veterans played in various locations around the country, helped start up other VA Teams as well as what have called Civilian-Home-Town-Teams.

Through his efforts and his labor, the National PVA was able to sponsor what we know as the PVA Basketball Tournaments which preceded the formation of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Bob helped provide the groundwork for the Association as we know it today.