Robert Summers
Robert Summers
For nearly 40 years, Bob helped to provide opportunities for student athletes at Avon High. Initially hired to teach elementary and junior high students in September 1957, Bob moved to the newly opened Avon High in 1958 where he taught physical education and began to build an athletic program as the athletic director. In December 1959, the Falcons fielded their first athletic team with the basketball team hitting the floor. Baseball debuted in April 1960, and football made its debut in September of that same year. Bob also helped start the Avon High Booster Club during this period. Bob continued to serve as the athletic director at Avon High for 37 years through 1995 while also acting as a PE teacher for eight years, the director of physical education for 22 years, vice principal for eight years, adult education director for three years and summer school director for five years. Bob was the varsity baseball coach in 1960 and 1961 – the first two years of the program. At times, he served as an assistant coach in baseball, football, and basketball. Bob was the chairman of the CIAC Girls tennis committee and a member of the CIAC Boys gymnastics committee. He was a member of the CIAC wrestling committee for 25 years and a tournament coordinator of the CIAC wrestling tournaments for many years. Bob was secretary of the Northwest Conference for 11 years and a sports chairman for the Nutmeg State Games (1989-91). He was a member of the State Department of Special Physical Education Committee and secretary of the Connecticut Association of Administrators of Physical Education. In the community, he organized the Babe Ruth League in Avon. He was a member of the Harwinton Recreation Committee for nine years and was a Little League baseball umpire in Harwinton for nine years. His excellence was noted. In 1980, he was named athletic director of the year by the National Council Secondary School Athletic Directors. In 1983, he was recognized as Athletic Director of the Year by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors. In 1989, he was named Athletic Director of the Year in Region I by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. In 2016, he was inducted into Connecticut Association of Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame. After retiring from Avon in 1995, he spent another five years as the athletic director (part-time) at Terryville High. In retirement, Bob is still staying involved and helping. In 2019, he was named the Connecticut State Golf Association (CSGA) volunteer of the year at the age of 90.