History of the FCW Captain’s Award
The Captain’s Award was launched in 2001. The award is to honor individuals, groups, or organizations for distinguished service in protecting and preserving local waterways and adjacent lands. Directors nominate a recipient to the board of directors, and a decision by the board is made by June of each year. The recipient is kept secret until announced at the August FCW Annual Meeting.
The recipients’ names are affixed to a plaque that hangs outside the town manager and select board office in the Town Hall at 549 Main Street.
The 2025 Captains Award was given to Dr. Bob Duncanson to honor his years of advocacy for Chatham’s waterways.
After 37 years, Bob retired in 2023 from the town of Chatham. While working as Director of Natural Resources, he oversaw programs in the areas of public health, conservation, environmental protection, coastal resources, and shellfish. He stewarded the development of the town’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Planning program that integrated the Massachusetts Estuaries Project and other scientific and engineering studies into the planning process.
Bob was part of the restoration team that enhanced the water connection of Muddy Creek to Pleasant Bay with the building of a new bridge on Route 28.
He oversaw the construction of the town’s improved and expanded wastewater treatment facility, and its pump stations and miles of sewer installations.
And of course, he has been the lynchpin in the Water Watchers volunteer water quality monitoring/sampling efforts that have been ongoing for over 25 years, providing a robust set of data.
But like many good public servants, he continues behind the scenes, providing assistance to the town’s water quality programs and projects related to restoration of salt marsh and fish passage, and stormwater improvements to improve water quality.
Captain's Award
Captain's Award
Presented by Friends of Chatham Waterways to honor distinguished service in the protection and preservation of Chatham’s waterways and neighboring lands. The Captain Award plaque hangs in Chatham Town Hall to the left of the door to the Selectmen’s office.
Award Criteria
- Honor the work or an individual, group or organization in protecting and preserving Chatham’s waterways and neighboring lands.
- Recognize efforts on a specific project or activity over a period of years.
- For an individual(s) in Chatham’s schools for exceptional effort to instruct pupils on the importance of conservation and what steps can be taken to achieve it.
- Elected or appointed Public Officials are also eligible.
- Current FCW board members are not eligible.
YEAR HONOREE(S)
2024 Frank Messina
2023 Thomas G. King
2022 Barbara Cotnam
2021 Charles J. Bartlett
2020 William C. Coleman
2019 Deborah S. Ecker
2018 Walter Butler
2017 Martha Stone
2016 Kristin Andres
2015 George Cooper
2014 Kurt Hellfach
2013 George Olmsted
2012 William Appleyard
2011 Jane S. Harris
2010 Fred O. Jensen
2009 Norman and Carol Pacun
2008 Richard Batchelder
2007 Rob Carlisle, Barbara Waters
2006 Gordon Pearce
2005 Paul R. Kelley
2004 Jean A. Young
2003 Coleman C. Yeaw
2002 Douglas B. Wells
2001 Richard N. Miller
The Captain’s Award plaque hangs in the downtown Chatham town hall to the left of the door to the office of the town manager and select board.
