Hall of Fame induction: 1995
As a Dover schoolboy hurdler Neylan won the State Championship in the 120 yard high hurdles in 1961, and was a member of the shuttle hurdle relay team which established the State Record that remained unbroken for eleven years. Bob set a State Open record of 14.4 in the 120HH in 1963.
Neylan competed for the University of Alabama where he ranked second in the Southeastern Conference at 300 hurdles, and finished second in the SEC Conference Championship meet in the 120HH. He later ran for Florida State University and lettered in track there also.
As a coach at Dover High School he inherited a 1987 team in shambles, and took them to a third place finish in the State Championships, losing only one dual meet along the way. Bob’s record at Dover High School was 107 wins against only 13 dual meet losses from 1973 to 1982, and included four State Team Championships. He was cited as the Henlopen Conference Track Coach of the Year six times, and chosen as Delaware Sports Club’s Coach of the Year and Lower Delaware Gridiron Club’s Coach of the Year both in 1976.
Neylan was chairman of the DSSAA State Outdoor Track & Field Committee for eleven years, and has been meet director of the Outdoor Championship since 1982, making great progress in bringing our state’s Outdoor Championships to an elite level Delaware high school competition.