Bugbear was the founder of the Mid West Chapter of the FreeRepublic. This was the very first chapter of the FreeRepublic to be established. Bugbear served as the chapter's first president and helped other freepers establish chapters with radio appearances and chat hosting. Within a year the entire country was covered with chapters of FR. Bugbear then encouraged American freepers living in other countries to establish international chapters to make the grass roots efforts of Free Republic cover the world.
Bugbear is also one of the original authors of the Freeper Lexicon

A former Biochemist turned Software Engineer, Bugbear was born and raised in Wisconsin.