FOBBA 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, family, 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 formed FOBBA: 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 aim to honor Bob in ways that promote the lessons he shared in a life of community service to others.
What we do: 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 acquire vital reading and writing skills. We established an endowment fund of $50,000 that provides an annual income of $6000 to support coaching internships and Citizen-Athlete service grants which are announced 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 FOBBA are eligible for charitable deduction for tax purposes.
Our 3-part Plan
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, FOBBA awards paid internships ($2,500 each) to aspiring coaching candidates who work with a proven mentor for a full season of either Outdoor Track & Field, Indoor Track & Field, or Cross Country. The interns develop valuable skills through experience on the job and the study of training and racing physiology, technique, technology, team dynamics, and meet management.
Community Service Award
Coach Behr was passionate about improving diversity and equity in the highly charged atmosphere of the 1960’s and 1970’s. He believed in literacy as a path to empowerment for all people, especially those in marginalized Black communities. Through his inclusive coaching philosophy, Tutor Corp volunteer group, and textbook "The Search for Black Identity" (1970), Bob sought to support the Civil Rights movement. His devotion to community service never waned; he continued to promote literacy through service, community action, and book distribution at food banks until his passing at age 87.
At the annual Bob Behr Invitational Track and Field Meet, FOBBA announces grants to nonprofits nominated by deserving young people who demonstrate similar outstanding leadership in community service.
Annual Bob Behr Invitational Track Meet
Coach Behr was an outstanding collegiate sprinter who initiated a Track & 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 33+ years of work in Alumni Relations.
The Bob Behr Invitational Track and Field Meet has been held at the Tower Hill School facility since 2022 and is managed and staffed by the New Castle County Coaches Cross Country and Track Association.
FOBBA board members
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 was a varsity track athlete in high school, but her primary sports were soccer and figure skating. Alison later became a high school teacher and department chair like her father, and she 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 1967 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 mile races in 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 first at Tower Hill 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 was on the Mile Relay Team at the 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 Behr 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 440yd championship.
Bill Neff '65
Bill was a 3-event State Champion (high jump, 120 yd high hurdles, 180 yd 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 in 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 9-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.
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.