Hannibal Parks & Recreation is celebrating the birthday of Admiral Robert Edward Coontz June 12 at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center.

Robert Edward Coontz (June 11, 1864 – January 26, 1935) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who sailed with the Great White Fleet and served as the second Chief of Naval Operations. As part of Hannibal’s Bicentennial celebration, notable Hannibalians are being celebrated.

The celebration begins at noon. The American Legion Post 55 will give a color guard presentation and history of Admiral Coontz.

The Senior Adult Dances will begin after the presentation and will end at 3 p.m.

There have been senior adult dances at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center for 45 years.  The dances feature the music of the Uptown Strings from noon to 3 p.m. every Wednesday. Betty Parsons Miller has been playing for the entire 45 years, but the band members have changed.