New Seaford School District Hall of Fame members inducted during ceremony

The Seaford School District class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductions were held last Friday with a dinner and presentation. On Saturday, the inductees were introduced at Ben Sirman Gymnasium between doubleheader basketball games.

This year the inductees included Regina Gaines Batson, Arnold Lee Mann, Sr., Trisha Leigh Newcomer, Lovett Purnell, Carlene Albury Radhouani, Danny Short, Dr. Michael K. Smith, and Darrell Eugene Tingle. Additionally, the 1955 Seaford varsity football team and the 1980 state championship baseball team were inducted.

The 1955 undefeated football team members include Bill O’Day, David Passwaters, Harold Holland, Howard McCabe, David Grosh, Jim Milliken, John Hartman, Carl Mahr, Kenny Tull, Dick Botdorf, Robert Allen, Myron McWilliams, Bill Petrea, Alan Lewis, Paul Clark, Carlton Jones, Marvin Adams, Maynard Eaton, Bill Steele, Alan Glover, Robert Chaffinch, James Trice, Homer Turner, Jack Conner, Ronald Ingram, Robert Kough, Frederick Thomas, Wayne Lyons, Charles James, Charles Hastings, Peter Radding, Jimmy Hughes, Wayne Litchford, Lenny Calhoun, and Bill Harper and managers Darvin Marino, Jim Trice, Slippy Bowland, Johnny Lynch, Howard Hollaway, and Harry Miller.

The team was coached by legendary Bob Dowd, who worked as a teacher and later as an administrator for 38 years. Coach Dowd was a World War II and Korean War Army veteran. He needed to leave coaching for a time to go to active duty. Coach Dowd was named the Delaware coach of the year in 1955 and was instrumental in the founding of the annual Blue-Gold All-Star Football game. He was the first coach for the South. The team was also coached by Francis McPherson. Present at the dinner were Bill O’Day and Carlton Jones.

The 1980 state championship baseball team was led by legendary coach Len Chasanov with assistants Steve Dilts, Jeff Miller, and Ron Dickerson. Players were Todd Carmean, Mike Guida, Curtis Kouts, Tom Morris, Doug Robinson, Dwayne Taylor, Trey Townsend, Kevin Bell, Mike Benson, Garrett Mifflin, Dale Perdue, Tim Peterson, Curtis Roberts, Bill Alston, Dyke Belcher, David Morris, Mike Conaway, and David Sweigard.

Each inductee received a glass sculpture to commemorate the evening. Trisha Newcomer, a 1993 graduate with over 25 years of service to the city of Seaford, said, “It is truly a humbling experience to be recognized by my alma mater and to stand with so many great individuals from Seaford. I take great pride in being able to give back every day to the community that gave me so much while growing up. My hope is to set an example for our young Blue Jays still in the Nest, showing them what’s possible for their futures and inspiring them to carry their Blue Jay spirit with them for life.”