Cape to honor Hickman at Legends Stadium

A plaque in honor of former Cape Henlopen High School track coach Tom Hickman will be placed in the Ring of Honor at Cape High's Legends Stadium.

“There is a plaque, in my opinion, that is missing, and that’s of Tom Hickman,” said Superintendent Kevin Carson. “We’ll make that happen as soon as possible.”

Dave Frederick, sports editor for the Cape Gazette, appeared before the board to push for the plaque to be installed over the upcoming Martin Luther King weekend because it fell on Hickman’s birthday. He turned 90 on Jan. 14.

“This is something that needs to get done and get done now,” Frederick said.

Superintendent Kevin Carson recommended honoring Hickman with a plaque by administrative directive, and there was no objection from the board, although it was unclear how long it would take to have the plaque installed.

As the high school track coach, Hickman not only led his teams to state championships in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975, but he did so in the early years of school desegregation in Delaware.

“He was able to bring community and talents together under the banner of Cape Henlopen,” Carson said.

Hickman graduated from West Chester University where he was an All-American track and soccer player. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the army where he fought in the European theater during World War II. He earned a number of honors for his bravery including two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.

School board President Sara Wilkinson said she remembered Hickman as a teacher for the district dating back to 1959, when he taught driver education.

“I was one of those people he taught to drive,” she said. “He was truly the epitome of a gentleman.”

School board member Camilla Conlon said a plaque dedicated to Hickman deserves a spot in the Ring of Honor. The Ring of Honor honors coaches from the three school districts that merged to form Cape Henlopen School District in 1969 – Lewes, Milton and Rehoboth Beach.

Conlon said Hickman would join fine company alongside plaques of Bob Edgerton, former basketball coach at Milton High School; Frank Coveleski, former football coach for Rehoboth Beach High School; and Tony Georgiana and Don Hanley, both former Lewes football coaches.

Conlon said Hickman holds the distinction of being the first plaque added to the original four plaques in the Ring of Honor.

"He was a guy who was extra special, and that was always the idea of the Ring of Honor," she said.