Robert Gronan

Robert Gronan was cofounder of Greenbrier River Trail Association (GRTA) in 1979.  Having led bicycling organizations advocating for rail-trails in other states in the 1970’s, Rob promoted the then-new concept in West Virginia.  He worked with legislators to introduce bills to establish the Greenbrier River Trail in the state parks system.  This effort was successful with the establishment of West Virginia’s first rail-trail in 1980.

Rob served as GRTA’s first president from 1979-1985 and as secretary from 2012-2021. He has been instrumental in several essential trail projects, most recently heading up the effort for interpretive and map signs on the trail.

Rob has a PhD in neuropsychopharmacology, and following grad school, was a professor/scientist for six years.  He then went to medical school, and after residency was an emergency medicine physician at hospitals in Low Moor and Lexington, VA for 27 years.