Help Us Honor the Legacy of Bob Behr: Coach, Teacher and Community Leader
Our organization offers paid internships for prospective coaches AND community service awards to young runners in Delaware.
Bob Behr Internship and Community Service Awardees
A Track Legacy for the Common Good
Wilmington, DE - April 22, 2025
Bob Behr Coaching Internship Awards
Dallas Parker and Hamza Barnes have been awarded paid internships from the non-profit Friends of Bob Behr Association to develop their track and field coaching skills. Parker will assist at A.I. du Pont High School and Barnes at Appoquinimink High School.
The FOBB Association is named in memory of Bob Behr, a dedicated teacher and innovative coach who cultivated outstanding track and cross-country programs in the 1960’s and 70’s. Behr also coached base-running with the Phillies, wrote for Sports Illustrated, and was elected to the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Bob Behr’s impact on the track world is legendary,” said Parker, “and to be associated with his name through this internship is a real motivator. It affirms that the work I’m doing with young athletes matters and encourages me to keep striving to be the best coach I can be.” As a student, Parker led A. I. du Pont to the state Division 2 championship in 2023 when he won the pole vault, the intermediate hurdles, and the high jump, also finishing third in the high hurdles. Parker now attends Goldey-Beacom College, where the other internship recipient Hamza Barnes earned a degree in criminal justice. Barnes remarked, “The
name of the award speaks for itself— a man who wanted to break barriers and give anyone a shot who deserved it. A person for the people. That’s exactly what I aspire to become.”
Bob Behr Community Service Awards
In addition to supporting future leaders in athletics, the Friends of Bob Behr Association gives community service grants to exceptional young people in Delaware. Allison Chi of Tower Hill School and Jacob Massey of Indian River High School are this year’s grant winners. Their $1000 awards will become donations to charities selected by each recipient.
Chi is a student-athlete at Tower Hill, where Behr chaired the English Department and coached track and cross-country for almost 20 years. “I'm honored to receive the Bob Behr Community Service Award,” said Chi. “I have had many great experiences tutoring students from places as close as Wilmington, Delaware to as far as China. It's been a privilege to meet so many amazing people and to give back to my community that has taught me so much in return.” Chi’s service work focuses on literacy, mentorship, and advocacy. Her grant will go to Urban Promise and West End Neighborhood House to help deepen their community impact.
The other 2025 service awardee, Jacob Massey, is an Eagle Scout and volunteer firefighter who is involved in a range of downstate organizations and events. Massey helped to build an artificial reef near Ocean City, which will help scientists study the impact of the fishing industry on local ecology. His grant from the Friends of Bob Behr Association will support Scouting USA via the Lord Baltimore Lions Club.
The FOBB Association sponsors the annual Bob Behr Invitational track meet at Tower Hill School, which is coming up this Saturday, April 26, at 10am. To learn more about FOBBA, help support its mission, and apply for internships and grants,
visit https://friendsofbobbehr.org/and https://www.instagram.com/friendsofbobbehr/
Friends of Bob Behr Mission Statement
Who we are: The Friends of Bob Behr Association is a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware. We are friends, colleagues, former students, and track and field athletes who were taught, coached, mentored, and inspired by Bob Behr during our high school years and have benefited from his wisdom throughout our lives. We wish to honor Bob’s unparalleled contributions to the sport of Track and Field and his lasting positive influence on coaches, students, and athletes.
Why we came together: Bob was a uniquely talented teacher and coach who led us to unprecedented success in both Cross Country and Track and Field, instilled in us a love of reading, and taught us writing skills that have served us well beyond our school years. We are seeking to honor Bob in ways that promote the lessons he shared in a life of community service to others.
What we are planning: Our objective is to establish enduring reminders of Bob’s contributions to high school student-athletes, to the coaching community, and to the sport of Track and Field, as well as his passion for helping underserved members of the broader community to master vital reading and writing skills.
We will establish an endowment fund of $50,000 that will provide an annual income of $6000 to support a coaching internship and a Citizen-Athlete award which will be given at the annual Bob Behr Invitational Track and Field Meet.
NOTE: Friends of Bob Behr Association has been recognized as a tax-exempt charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions to Friends of Bob Behr Association are eligible for the charitable deduction for tax purposes.
Our Plan
Annual Bob Behr Invitational Track Meet
Coach Behr was an outstanding collegiate sprinter, initiated a Track and Field team while serving in the Air Force, developed individual and team state champions over 19 years at Tower Hill School, and served as a volunteer coach and meet announcer at Williams College during his 33 years there in Alumni Relations.
The Bob Behr Invitational Track and Field Meet will be held at the Tower Hill School facility beginning in 2022 and managed and staffed by the New Castle County Coaches Cross Country and Track Association.
Coaching Internship
In 2017 Coach Behr was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame to honor his unprecedented success coaching Cross Country and Track and Field at Tower Hill School, and for his leadership in the development of women athletes through the Delaware Track and Field Club.
To honor his coaching legacy, this paid coaching internship ($2,500) will place an aspiring coaching candidate with a proven mentor for a full season of either Outdoor Track and Field, Indoor Track and Field, or Cross Country. The intern will learn both by experience on the job and by study in such areas as training and racing physiology, technique, technology, team dynamics, and meet management.
Community Service Award
Coach Behr was passionate about improving diversity and inclusiveness in the charged atmosphere of the 1960’s and 70’s; his devotion to community service never waned. At the Bob Behr Invitational Track and Field Meet an award will be presented to a deserving participant who has demonstrated leadership in community relations and service.
Help Support Track and Field in Delaware and honor Coach Behr's exceptional contributions to the sport and his long lasting positive influence on coaches, students, and athletes in our state.
About US
Friends of Bob Behr
We are friends, colleagues, students, and family members who were taught, coached, mentored, and, profoundly influenced by Bob Behr.
Bradford Behr
Son of Coach Bob Behr, Brad co-captained the Mount Greylock Regional High School track squad as a high jumper and 200/400 sprinter and competed in those same events for Williams College. He won the 1992 Division III New England indoor high jump crown.
Alison Behr
Daughter of Coach Bob Behr, Alison ran track in high school and competed in the 100 hurdles, high jump, and triple jump. While track provided a fun team experience, Alison found her true calling in the sports of soccer and figure skating, which she continued during college. She became a teacher like her father and also coached soccer, ice hockey, and golf at independent schools on both coasts.
Gil Birney '68 (emeritus)*
Gil was State Champion in the Two Mile in 1966 and ’67 and co-captain with Larry Thornton of the undefeated Cross Country and Track teams in ’67-'68.
Jeff Brokaw '69
Jeff was a multi year State Champion in Cross Country and Track and Field and held multiple school and state records. His record of winning 4 consecutive miles int the State Meet is a record that still stands.
Chuck Durante '69
Chuck lettered in the distance events in high school (1968-69) and at Haverford College. A freelance sportswriter throughout his career as a lawyer, he has become an historian, chronicler and raconteur of Delaware high school sports.
Karl Klauck '67
Karl was co-captain of the 1966 Cross Country Team. In Track, Karl was the 1st at TH to compete in the 2 mile in his Senior year. Prior to that Karl competed in the mile and 180 Low Hurdles (4th in States). Karl ran with the Mile Relay Team at Penn Relays in 1967. Coach Behr affectionately called Karl the greatest micro running machine in the state.
Ed Lincoln '67
Ed managed Cross Country and Track in his junior and senior year. Later at Harvard, helped by a strong recommendation from Bob to coach Bill McCurdy, he was lead manager of Cross Country and Track and Field for 3 years.
Peter Lotto '71
Peter was a member of the cross country and track teams and served as manager of the basketball team. At Hamilton College he provided color commentary on WHCL-FM for football and hockey games.
Ed Mongan '69
Ed was a high school State Champion in the triple jump and went on to set records in several events at the University of Delaware. He won the IC4A indoor 440 yard championship.
Bill Neff '65
Bill was a 3-event State Champion (high jump, 120 yd high hurdles, 180 low hurdles) for the 1964 Track Team, and Captain of the 1965 State Champion Track & Field Team. He set a State Record in the Pole Vault in 1965.
Lawrence Thornton '68
Larry served as Co-Captain of the undefeated State Champions in Cross Country (1967) and Track (1968). He finished 3rd in the 1967 Cross Country state championships and second in the 880 (1968).
Mac Thornton '65
Mac was Group II Cross Country State Champion in 1963 and State mile champ in 1965. Mac also held school track records in the half mile and mile. He was captain of the State Champion XC team in 1964.
Ken Williams '76
Ken was a nine time high school record setting State Champion. At the University of Pennsylvania Ken was a 2-time indoor and outdoor Heptagonal High Hurdle Champion and team Captain.
Bob Behr was an innovative, forward-looking coach who introduced women’s track in Delaware.
Help us support Track and Field while honoring a great teacher, coach and community leader.