Dover's coveted rec award goes to Garrison City Football Club vol Paul Burns

Paul Barns was awarded the 2024 Heyliger Volunteer of Year for his commitment to youth sports. He is pictured with Recreation Advisory Board Chair Heather Twombly, Deputy Recreation Director Ricky Conway, and Rec Director Kevin Burns (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - The Dover Recreation Department and the Recreation Advisory Board recently held their 26th Don Heyliger Awards Ceremony, celebrating the excellence, dedication, outstanding achievements and perseverance of individuals who have made remarkable contributions to Dover's youth organizations.

Sponsored by Dover Recreation and the Recreation Advisory Board, the event unites the city's youth organizations to honor the individuals, groups, and businesses whose time and resources sustain these programs.

The Heyliger Awards honor Don Heyliger, Dover's beloved Recreation Director, who served the community with great dedication for 10 years before his sudden death in 1988. Award recipients possess the same high-quality traits, treating players with respect, ensuring every child participates, motivating with praise, building confidence, showing compassion, supporting the disadvantaged, and being fun to be around.

The Recreation Advisory Board honored volunteers from each youth sports organization: Paul Barns (Garrison City F.C.), David Devoy (Dover Football League), Cam Paquette and Camden Barrett (Dover Youth Basketball), Josh Hersey (Dover Youth Hockey), Jamie Stevens (Dover Youth Softball), Tim Pine (Dover Baseball), The Merrill Family (Cocheco Lacrosse), and Melissa Chandler (Dover Little Green Cheerleading).

After careful consideration, the Recreation Advisory Board awarded Garrison City F.C.'s Paul Barns with the Heyliger's marquee "Volunteer of the Year" award. The youth soccer organization applauded the recognition.

"Paul is the first person to raise his hand when there is a job that needs to be done," Garrison City Football Club posted on its Facebook page. "Whether it's helping the club make a tough decision, coaching a group of children, or going out to the fields alone on a blistering summer day to make sure the fields are lined for game day, Paul is an indispensable reason why kids in Dover are able to play soccer at all."

The event was held at Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #443, which generously donated its banquet hall. The evening underscored the vital role of community spirit and volunteerism in shaping Dover's youth and future.