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The Power of Dr. Nugent’s Life and the NWBA

By Will Waller, NWBA Board of Directors, 11/11/16, 11:15AM CST

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While participating at a recent tournament, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Buckeye Chapter Invitational, it was very clear to me the impact of Tim Nugent. Veteran’s Day is on November 11 and it amazes me how Tim’s original Mission and Purpose still resonates today. The photo of all of the brave service men, who were injured in battle or otherwise, competed at this tournament. As I applauded those in the photo, I wondered how many other Veterans were competing this weekend. I also wondered how many newly injured Vets were introduced to the sport in 2016. How many do you think have competed in our nearly 70-year history? I don’t know the exact number, but I do know the numbers are large!

With no self-interests in mind, Dr. Tim Nugent provided opportunity for Veterans returning from World War II, a group of individuals who did not have advocates. While many thought that the sole outlook for the ‘disabled’ was meek at best, he saw the possibilities before that phrase became cliché. Nugent battled University Administration to create a pilot program, because he knew first-hand the power of sport and the benefit of being in a team environment.  What started as programming for some of his fallen comrades quickly resulted in the formation of The National Wheelchair Basketball Association in 1948. 

Unwavering in his cause, Nugent created an environment on the campus of University of Illinois that was inclusive. Not a sentence, a paragraph or even novels would be sufficient to describe the full sacrifice and risk that it took to accomplish what he did during a time that considered this revolutionary. Nugent made access to sport and, more importantly, education and its many benefits for persons with disabilities his lifelong journey and work. His programming was holistic, covering education services, rehab services to the sports programming we know of today. Basketball was just one avenue on the road to success.

After his initial years on campus, his work quickly expanded to impact civilians with disabilities, as well. I am forever grateful that he did. As members of the NWBA, we all have a unique story, many of which include struggles with coping or adjusting to our physical and emotional state. Personally, I firmly believe that sport was the magic potion that helped me snap out of depression after being shot at the age of 18. It took several failures and many conversations to get me to open my mind to a better way. Once I did, however, the vast network that is the NWBA and adaptive sports, went to work. Seminole moments like these are the positive that happens in our organization all the time, yet we don’t always recognize it.

I see the NWBA as a family. We don’t necessarily agree on everything, and we only see each other at reunions (Tournaments and Nationals), but we all have a great appreciation for our common bond. As I think about celebrating Dr. Nugent and his legacy, I am fixated on the phrase “Change with Respect.” 

Our core principles as an Association still hold true to this day. We ultimately want to create opportunity for participation in sport for people with disabilities, veterans and otherwise).  At the same time, finding ways to sustain, and grow our sport has to be a priority. Is there one perfect approach or answer to this question, and one that will make every member happy, absolutely not. Do we have to try, absolutely. 

Our greatest resource as an Association is the talent we have in our membership. That applies on the court, but also off the court. My challenge is to stay involved to improve what we have for our retired, current and future members. If you have concerns about how something is going, find a way to get involved and seek to understand. Our initial reaction is typically, ‘they’ don’t want my ideas. There is only we. I’ve gotten involved on the Board and on various committees, because I know that is the only way for me to truly thank the many people who have given me the opportunity to compete. I think you should do the same.