Bob started rowing in 1971 as one of the first members of the newly formed crew at Washington State University, on the mighty Snake River. After graduation, he started sculling, and both competed and helped run competitions in the Northwest, and was licensed as a National Association of Amateur Oarsmen official in 1980. He helped with coaching the WSU crew while in graduate school and was the women's head coach in 1984. He was licensed as a FISA Umpire in 1989 and has worked at many international regattas, including the 2008 Olympics, and was President of the Jury for the 2018 World Masters competition. He has worked all levels of competition throughout the US and has also served as a member of the USRowing Referee Committee as both the Northwest and Northeast regional representative and as Chairman from 2002-2006. He was also asked by Julian Wolf in 2002 to take over leadership of the Referee College which Julian had started, and has served in that role ever since.