Fowler Twins, Dave and Don Fowler, Named Recipients of the 2011 W. Howard Hartman Friendship Award

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Aug. 22, 2011) – Dave and Don Fowler have been volunteering as members of the grounds crew for the Little League Baseball World Series since 1996.  For their numerous hours spent manicuring the fields for the World Series, they have been selected as the recipients of the 2011 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award.

The twin brothers split the volunteer grounds crews during the World Series, with Don managing the work at Howard J. Lamade Stadium, and Dave supervising the crew at Volunteer Stadium.  Typically, the 25-30 volunteers in the grounds crews rotate duties throughout the 11-day World Series event.  They normally arrive early in the week prior to the first game of the World Series and stay until the World Championship game has been decided.

The connection with the Little League Baseball World Series developed in 1996 when Don was consulting for Alpine Services, and they contracted with Little League International to rebuild the playing surface at Lamade Stadium.  The relationship took root at that point, and since the completion of the project, Don has volunteered along with his twin brother.  Dave’s son, Jeff, and grandson, Evan, also are members of the grounds crew.

The Fowler brothers, 74, were born in Reading, Pa., and spent most of their childhood in Danville, Pa.  Dave now lives in Knox, Pa. while Don makes his home in McConnellsburg, Pa.
In 2008, Don received the Dick Ericson Award from the SportsTurf Managers Association which is presented annually to a sport turf manager who positively impacts the sports turf industry and exhibits effective team leadership.

The W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award was created in 1988 to honor W. Howard Hartman, one of Little League International’s most generous and loyal friends.  The award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has demonstrated a similar relationship with Little League.
Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with more than 2.5 million players and 1 million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.

Previous W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award Recipients

1988-Ray Keyes  

1989-Robert Yasui

1990-Putsee Vannucci

1991-Howard Baldwin            

1992-Jack Lundy

1993-Bill Byham

1994-Gary Mayer

1995-John Troisi

1996-Mary Lib Stockwell

1997-Sharon Verbos

1998-Ed Claudius

1999-Terry Gramling

2000-Tom Dempsey

2001-Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation

2002-Alan Wells

2003-Peter Luppachino

2004-Thomas ‘Tuck’ Frazier

2005-Hon. William Miller

2006-Susquehanna Health System

2007-Lycoming County Law Enforcement Association

2008-Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber ofCommerce

2009-Fred Plankenhorn and Paul Weaver

2010-WRAK Radio