posted on 11/3/2022
Those who have visited Henry Law Park recently have likely noticed a new historical marker with photos and brief bios of seven Dover-connected Olympians.
The marker, part of the Faces of Dover history project, was installed last month at the top entrance of the park at 6 Washington St., near the corner of Henry Law Avenue and Washington Street. It is a partnership Recreation Advisory Board, Dover 400 Committee , Faces of Dover , Dover Main Street and the City of Dover.
The Olympians honored on the marker:
- Ted Vogel, Marathon, 1948 London;
- Barbara Marois, Field Hockey, 1988 Seoul and 1996 Atlanta;
- Jennie Marshall, Rowing, 1988 Seoul;
- Cathy Schiro O'Brien, Marathon, 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona;
- Jenny Thompson, Swimming, 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens;
- Jessica Parratto, Synchronized Platform Diving, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Toyko;
- Liza Corso, Running, 2020 Toyoko Paralympics.
Discussions to create a marker began in earnest with the Recreation Advisory Board, starting in June 2021, just ahead of the Toyko Olympics, where two Dover athletes competed: Jessica Parrato and Liza Corso. Recreation Director Gary Bannon and board member Elizabeth Fischer wanted to have something in place for Dover's 400 anniversary in 2023. Part of the board's work revolved around creating criteria for what constituted a Dover Olympic athlete.
After establishing the criteria, the committee, with the public's help, sought to ensure all Dover-connected Olympians were honored. From there, a team of over 20 Dover citizens helped make it a reality, from research, writing and editing copy, factchecking and designing the final marker that now stands in Henry Law Park.
"It all came together after a lot of hard work," said Fischer, the volunteer project coordinator. "It is a nice tribute to the athletes and citizens that made it happen."
A formal dedication ceremony is planned for next year during the city's 400th-anniversary celebration.
Bannon said it's long been a goal of his to update the city's recognition of its elite athletes. In the 1990s, the Recreation Advisory Board brought forth the installation of signs honoring Jenny Thompson and Cathy Schiro O'Brien. One of those signs remains on Central Avenue near the Spaulding Turnpike overpass. Find more information about the Olympians at https://www.facesofdover.org/olympians/. It is one of 32 Faces of Dover markers throughout the city.
