Loral "Bud" Rumple
2005 Hall of Fame Inductee

Bud Rumple was an outstanding athlete, coach and innovator who impacted the world of wheelchair basketball. He was devoted to the sport for more than 20 years and created a legacy that would be respected throughout the National Wheelchair Basketball League and provide inspiration for many years to come.

As a 26 year old post-polio, Bud began playing wheelchair basketball in 1961 for the Indianapolis Crossroads Olympians and was selected as the Conference Rookie-of-the-Year and voted to the First Team All Conference for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. That was the beginning of an illustrious career that spanned over three decades and in 1970 would see him taking on the additional responsibilities of coaching for the legendary Detroit Sparks. Over his playing career he was named to the All American team for 17 years, the All Conference Team for 19 years, and held two NWBA tournament records. He was the winner of the Jack Gerhart Award for the Outstanding Wheelchair Athlete of 1966. As coach of the USA Basketball Team, he won the Paralympic gold medal in 1976 and the Paralympic silver medal in 1980. Bud coached the Detroit Sparks to seven National Championships and seven of his players from the Sparks have been inducted into the NWBA Hall of Fame which is a credit to his ability to select, train, and inspire his players to play their best game. He himself was inducted into the NWBA Hall of Fame in 1983.

One of his greatest accomplishments was designing and producing the first solid state sports wheelchair in 1971. It was the welded box frame he designed and engineered that served as the forerunner of the chair now used throughout the world. Because of his design, the overall quality of play for all who enjoy wheelchair basketball has been elevated. His career working in metal fabricating companies helped him with his innovative design and implementation of the chair and his characteristic above average aptitude and attitude would help elevate him to Supervisory and Managerial positions at work.

When Bud finally retired in 1987 from wheelchair sports, he became an avid golfer and enjoyed spending quality time with his family. He passed away in 1992. Bud was nominated for this honor by fellow Hall of Fame alumni member, Darlene Quinlan, who shared: "He was my mentor and loving friend and touched the hearts of many. I can't think of a more deserving person to be honored and inducted into the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame."

Congratulations Bud!