Green Hornets legend immortalized

Smiles, cheers and some tears were shed at Firemen’s Field on Sept. 10 as Valley Stream honored one of its own, the late Green Hornets football legend Bob Hawkey, with a pep rally and dedication ceremony.

Hawkey, a founding member and head coach of the Hornets varsity football team for 59 years, died of a heart attack last December at age 79. More than 200 family members, friends, players and residents came out to pay tribute to a man who taught his players to be winners on and off the field.

The evening began with each of the Hornets players and cheerleaders, along with all three high school varsity football teams — the North Spartans, South Falcons and Central Eagles — marching around the field in their jerseys and uniforms. After the crowd sang the national anthem, Green Hornets President Sharon Daly addressed the crowd.

“Coach Hawkey was there from the Hornets’ inception,” said Daly, who knew Hawkey for more than 30 years. “Whenever I speak of him, I cannot help but suggest he was a success story. Bob is, without a doubt, here with us in spirit. He lived and breathed football.”

Daly spoke of Hawkey’s dedication to coaching and of his being a wonderful human being. She noted that the late Mayor Ed Cahill was determined to honor Hawkey, so Cahill’s widow, Mary Ann, represented him at the ceremony. Other notable attendees — Sen. Dean Skelos, Assemblyman Bob Barra, Councilman Jim Darcy, County Legislator Francis Becker and village officials, including Acting Mayor Joanne Antun — were in the crowd.

Darcy, who played for Hawkey early in the Hornets’ history, recalled when the coach made him an “equipment engineer,” a fancy name for waterboy, after Darcy suffered an injury during his first year as a player. “He was a tough taskmaster with a loving heart and uncanny ability to keep the game of football fun,” he said. “Bob was always supportive of me. He played such a vital role in Valley Stream and his community.”

Hawkey taught more that winning, Darcy said, encouraging players to set goals and become the best person they could be. “He gave us many famous talks about teamwork,” he recalled. “I want to thank Coach for that, and his decades of dedicated service. People know his name and were touched by his greatness.”