Perhaps more than anyone, Dan Harkins knew that progress didn't have to come at the expense of the past.

As an organized effort to renew Claymont began in earnest nearly a decade ago, there was Harkins -- the town's "go to guy" for information about its history -- actively planning for his hometown's new future.

Harkins died Monday morning, succumbing to a prolonged bout with lung cancer at the age of 62.

What remains however, is a legacy of a man who cared deeply for his community, his neighbors, and for social justice.

"Dan Harkins was passionately interested and engaged in every aspect of the Claymont’s glorious past and recent resurgence," said New Castle County Councilman Robert Weiner. "Though some may take for granted today’s pride of Claymont’s citizenry, we need to pause to reflect upon Dan’s...levity and perspective during the past decade of rebirth."

Harkins came to Claymont from New Jersey at the age of 7, and went on to become a standout football player at Claymont High School. His greatest love, however, was for learning. He studied political science at Duke University, where he went later taught classes for several years.

An only child, he returned to Claymont to care for his ailing parents and remained after their deaths.

He would go on to become one of the most important civic leaders in the history of Brandywine Hundred in the eyes of New Castle County Councilman John Cartier.

Cartier met Harkins while campaigning in 2004 and ended up spending an entire day visiting with him and discussing issues affecting the area. They became fast friends and right up until his death, Cartier considered Harkins his unofficial policy director and discussed virtually every legislative decision with him.

"As president of the Rolling Hills Civic Association, his goal was to help people who helped him when he was growing up to resolve issues like pot holes and drainage problems," said Virginia Tryon Smilack, who worked closely with Harkins on historic preservation efforts.

One such collaboration involved chronicling Claymont's leading role in integrating its schools in 1952. Indeed, Harkins was proud his hometown was ahead of the curve when it came to race relations.

He once recalled for the Community News a story of his 1965 football team returning from a big win in Maryland. Three buses of athletes, cheerleaders and marching band members rolled into a hamburger joint on U.S. 40 to celebrate.

"Everything went out on the grill and they thought it was bonanza night, and they were going to make a fortune,” Harkins said of the restaurant staff. “We were all excited, ready to celebrate the victory.”

But when the students began to settle in, restaurant staff informed them that the black players would have to eat their burgers outside. Coach Bill Holstein ordered everyone back onto the buses.

"We all knew what was going on. We didn’t even question it,” Harkins said. "It was the right thing to do, and it showed what the 1952 moral choice meant."

On Aug. 22, just eight days before his death, Harkins mustered the strength to attend the dedication of the historical marker at Hickman Row that he worked so hard to have installed, marking the place where Wirth Steel housed black steelworkers.

To many in town, Harkins was known for dressing in Revolutionary War garb and greeting visitors at the historic Robinson House.

"With his booming baritone voice he answered the door with 'Welcome to the Robinson House,'" recalled Carolyn Mercadante, president of the Claymont Historical Society. "It is hard to believe the voice is now still."

Staff Reporter Antonio Prado and Virginia Tryon Smilack contributed to this story.