Bob Dyer recipient of MPA’s Service to Maine Youth Award

The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) has named Bob Dyer of Sherman as one of two recipients of the MPA’s Service to Maine Youth Award. This award, which is given annually, recognizes individual adults who have made an outstanding contribution to the youth of Maine through education and/or the general welfare of Maine youth.
    When finding out he was being nominated, Dyer’s first response was “there must be someone who deserves it more than me.” That humility and selflessness defines Dyer.
A former physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director in SAD 25, Dyer has been a volunteer in the district since his retirement in 2004. As an avid outdoorsman, he has introduced area youth to the wonders of the Katahdin region through life long activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, cross country skiing, kayaking, snowshoeing, skating, and archery. While he was teaching, Dyer engaged in these activities with youth on his own time, outside of school.
“Many people in the area are still active in these activities, as adults, because of what they were exposed to in Bob’s classes,” said Katahdin Elementary Principal Chris Cunningham. “Throughout his retirement, Bob continues to stay involved with area youth.”
As a volunteer in SAD 25, Dyer has spent countless hours constructing, flooding, and maintaining an outdoor skating rink for the students and community to skate and play hockey on.
“Students use the ice rink during recess, physical education classes, extended day program and on weekends,” said Cunningham. “Even in the last few years when his cancer treatments make it painful for him to be out in the cold, he still insists on maintaining the rink himself.”
He has also trimmed trees and removed objects to provide a cross-country ski trail for students and staff. With a self-made drag, he grooms the trail after each storm. It is on this trail where the annual “Katahdin Area Celebration of Life” event is held to honor cancer survivors and cancer victims. The inspiration for this event is Dyer and his strong will to be a cancer survivor. Family and community members, young and old, have pulled together to support this worthwhile cause and have raised $41,000 in the past four years to benefit Cancer Care of Maine.
“Bob has made and continues to make an outstanding contribution serving the youth in our area,” said Cunningham.
As Maine’s 2008 Service to Maine Youth awardees, Dyer and Gorham’s John Grovo will be honored at the MPA’s Spring Conference awards banquet on May 1.