Initially established as a recreational program of the League (formerly the League for the Handicapped) and the Maryland Rehabilitation Center (MRC) in the early 1970's, the Maryland Ravens have continued to provide wheelchair basketball as a competitive recreational program for many of Maryland's physically impaired adults and youths. As a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) and the Capital Conference, the Maryland Ravens compete annually against many of the other highly talented NWBA teams. During the Maryland Ravens' early years, they were ranked amongst the top 25 wheelchair teams in the country.

The Maryland Ravens are always seeking new basketball players who are interested in competing locally or nationally. If you, or someone you know has a physical disability, lives in the Baltimore area, and would like to be considered as a participant in our athletic program, fax, write, call, or E-Mail us at:


Maryland Ravens, Inc.
1413 Glendale Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21239
(410)825-5359[Bus.] (410)825-7353[Fax]
mdravens@aol.com

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Athletes' Profiles
Larry Tyrone Hughes
Public Relations Officer

Larry Hughes is a graduate of the University of Baltimore with a Master's Degree in Computer Science. Larry has been a spokesperson for the Regain Corporation and has held several positions with the State of Maryland Physical Fitness Commission (Commisioner), Maryland Wheelchair Athletic Promotion (MWAP/Executive), Appalachian Wheelchair Athletic Association (Board Member), and Howard County Therapeutic Recreation (Member). Larry works as a personal trainer /coach to other disabled athletes. He has been involved with the Maryland Ravens for 10 or more years.


Larry's disability resulted from an injury which he acquired in Vietnam where he was a member of the United States Marine Corps. The injury produced ulnar nerve damage and deterioration. His condition was further compounded with lupus and multiple sclerosis. Despite these inconveniences, Larry has forged forward to become a World Class Wheelchair Racer. He is a national record holder in both Masters and Open Division in field events.....(discus, shot-put, and javelin). He is ranked third in the world. During the 1996 paralympics, Larry achieved a gold medal and was ranked #1 in the USA in Discus, Shot and Javelin. His hobbies include coaching, training, developing and designing.

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Robert Tucker

Robert graduated from Walbrook Senior High School. He has been a participant with the Maryland Ravens' Disability Awareness Program for more than 10 years.

Robert, unlike the other players, was born with spinal bifida which is a disease of the spinal cord. Regardless of this little inconvenience, Robert has continued on to participate in wheelchair softball, track, tennis, and basketball. He enjoys reading, swimming, weight-training, chess, socializing with friends and backgammon.
Robert's attributes also include teaching students about our disability awareness program and his accomplishments despite his birth defect. "Things in life are not easy. But, the power to overcome is within you. The desire to call on that power is at your command. Your motivation is your strength of self."

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Sam "Doc" Dent

"Doc" graduated from Sollers Point High School. Prior to disability retirement, "Doc" previously worked as a computer programmer and an electronics technician. "Doc's" injury resulted from a gunshot wound at the age of 19. During his tenure with the Maryland Ravens, "Doc" was one of the oldest original Maryland Ravens actively participating. Due to medical problems, he retired from basketball and classroom presentations where he demonstrated that disability nor age was an obstacle for him.

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Claude Hall

Claude was born with congenital anomaly (a birth defect of the left arm and both legs). Despite this early obstacle, Claude continued to pursue his ambitions. Claude graduated from William S. Baer School and attended Baltimore City Community College where he received computer programmer certification.

While he was attending Baer school, Claude developed an interest in sports and went on to play wheelchair basketball with the Bennett Blazers.

When his career at Bennett ended, Claude still had a desire to play ball. He currently plays backup point guard for the Maryland Ravens wheelchair basketball team who were ranked # 1 in the country in 2006. In addition, Claude plays catcher for the wheelchair softball team where he has been nationally recognized as the most outstanding Quadriplegic.

Claude enjoys movies, playing video games, wheelchair softball and basketball. Claude is a true example of what can be accomplished (despite adversities) with determination, self-motivation and a positive outlook.

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Gino Wilson

At age 14, Gino was performing the daily routines of most boys until a shot rung out. The bullet lodged in his spine and left him with limited use of his legs.

As a result of the incident, Gino left school prior to completion. Later, he returned to earn his GED in 1991. Soon after, he continued his education at Woodrow Wilson Community College where he majored in computer technology. While attending community college, Gino earned certification as a computer technician.

Since that time, Gino has kept himself busy caring for his daughter (Lacey) and undertaking various self-employment ventures (i.e., restaurant ownership). Gino enjoys remote control cars, wheelchair basketball and softball.

Now living in Columbia, Gino has been an active participant in the Maryland Ravens Disability Awareness Program for the past 6 years. As a speaker and athlete, Gino provides a youthful energy to our presentations at local schools. Like all of our participants, Gino demonstrates the abilities that we each possess despite physical challenges.

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Ron Shaffer


While striving to become a professional Motocross racer, Ron sustained a career ending injury in 1977, rendering him a paraplegic. With his competitive spirit still intact, he proceeded to get heavily involved in wheelchair sports. Having tried track and field, racquetball, water skiing, tennis, softball and snow skiing, Ron quickly found out there is no sport as gratifying as wheelchair basketball. Ron started playing for the Baltimore Ravens in 1979 and has played for various teams in the Baltimore/Washington area during his career, but has spent the greatest portion with the Maryland Ravens. Ron is a Class I, playing at the guard position and is a perennial Team Captain as he provides considerable experience and leadership to the team.

Ron is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a Certificate Degree in Computer Science and has worked as a Computer Programmer, LAN Administrator and most recently as an Information Security Officer. After working 12 years in Information Technology at various large Baltimore corporations, he has been employed by the Social Security Administration since 1991.

Ron grew up in the Essex area and still resides in Essex with his wife Laura and son Michael. Mike grew-up assisting and practicing with the basketball teams and after sustaining a recent foot injury, is now certified to play on the Maryland Ravens. Winning the National Championship in 2006 was a dream come true and being able to share that ultimate feeling of triumph with his son, was the pinnacle of Ron's basketball career.

Ron enjoys spending time with his family and many outdoor activities along with his sports and has recently rediscovered fishing. You can probably find him out on the water during the summer on their Pontoon boat or Water Skiing.