The prestigious Don Clark Award is presented by Minnesota Hockey to an individual who over a period of many years has been dedicated to the grassroots growth and development of youth hockey in Minnesota. 

Bob Halverson grew up in the hockey hotbed of Duluth, MN. Despite learning to skate at his neighborhood “Portman” rink and being an avid broomball player, Halverson never played organized hockey himself.

When his son began playing in the 1980’s, Halverson volunteered with the New Hope-Plymouth association as their ice scheduler. Being an engineer by trade, Halverson made several enhancements to the scheduling process over his 12 years in the role. One of his most well known accomplishments was the development of a “fairness chart”, in which the quantity and quality of ice hours were assigned equally for all association teams.

In 1989, Halverson became the association representative to Minnesota Hockey’s District 3 when Cooper Youth Hockey Association was formed. Halverson became the interim District 3 Director in 1992 when Art Sprague joined Minnesota Hockey (formerly Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association or “MAHA”) as a Vice President.

As District 3 Director, Halverson served on many active MAHA committees, including Admin Management, Tournaments, Planning, Metro League, Rules and Handbook. He continued to schedule ice for the Cooper and Armstrong associations, and he helped spearhead the expansion of New Hope Ice Arena to a two-sheet facility when girls hockey gained popularity.  His many contributions at the local, district and state levels earned him the President's Award in 1998.

After ten years as a district director, Halverson served two years as the Maroon Vice President. He became the chairman of the Rules Committee in 2003 and took over the Handbook Committee for Gerry Brown in 2006.

Halverson has always taken a keen interest in bylaws and rules due to the similarities to his job as an engineer. He successfully got the District 3 bylaws changed so that only the member associations could vote, and was recognized with additional President’s Awards in 2008 and 2016 for his contributions to Minnesota Hockey’s rules and handbook.

Affectionately known as "Handbook Bob", Halverson is uniquely adept at presenting all sides of an issue and concisely summarizing the desires of the masses.  Thank you, Bob, for your longstanding and heartfelt dedication towards our great game.