Friday, March 6, 2015

#IN conjunction with the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) Hall of Fame inductions for Romell ‘Fish’ Knowles and Oria Wood-Knowles, the Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) has announced the list of players, administrators, coaches and sponsors who will be inducted in its class of 2015 Hall of Fame inductees. 

#Both ceremonies will be held in the Ballroom of Government House on Wednesday March 25 at 6 pm. In attendance will be Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, Dale McMann, ISF president, Dr Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, and English Caribbean Amateur Softball Confederation and BSF executives.

#The BSF’s inductees are:

#Male players: Anthony ‘Bubba’ Douglas, Byron ‘BJ’ Johnson, Courtney Chandler, Garth Rolle, Gladstone Sands, Hastings ‘the Hurler’ Campbell, Hawitte Ingraham, John Sands, Leroy Thompson, Mark Gates, Michael Laing. 

#Female players: Carolyn Ferguson, Ernestin Butler, Hycinth Farrington, Leona Roache, Nerissa Seymour, Vernie Curry.

#Coaches: Paul Demeritte, Richard Morley, Spurgeon Johnson.

#Sponsors: Bahamas Wholesale Agency (BWA), Five Wheels of Grand Bahama. 

#Administrator/sponsor: Cornelius ‘Money’ Williams, Darrell Weir, Hansel Collie, James Smith, Johnnie Butler, Keva Turnquest (posthumously), Lauri C Newton, Paula Johnson, Penal B Wilson.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

#THE third edition of the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will feature 35 athletes, administrators, officials and personalities during a gala show at the Regency Theatre in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on July 6.

#The GB Sports Hall of Fame committee, an entity of the City of Freeport local government council, made the announcement on Wednesday as it unveiled this year’s theme: Legends 2013 -‘Better…Stronger…Faster’.

#Harold Williams, chairman of the committee, announced that the upcoming induction – as the country celebrates its 40th anniversary as a nation – is significant as it will serve “as a reminder to those who want to compete that they must be better, they must be stronger, and they must be faster in order to be honoured and recognised as a Hall-of-Famer.

#“We want to share our patriotism during this anniversary year and we promise that the event will not be the usual sit down dinner but more of an energetic show featuring these past athletes who thrilled Grand Bahama during their more active or playing days.”

#The committee unveiled its promotional television commercial and banner which features some past inductees, namely hall-of-famers, former all-around athlete Anita Doherty, softball star Candice DeGregory, basketball standouts Basil ‘Kid’ Sands, Derek ‘Bookie’ Nesbitt, and Charlie ‘Softly’ Robins, and bodybuilder, Sam ‘Zulu’ Williams.

#Also on hand for the announcement were the administrator for the CFC, Alexander Williams, chief councilor, Kevin Ferguson, councilor, Derek Sands, and softball administrators and hall-of-famers, Churchill Tener-Knowles and Gregory Christie.

#Inductees in the Class of 2013 come from a cross section of Grand Bahama and include not just athletes and coaches, but also administrators, officials and the media.

#Elected from Basketball – James ‘Goon’ Culmer and Terry Wildgoose, from Bodybuilding, Baldwin Darling, Henry Charlton, Powerlifting – Bernard ‘Spinks’ Rolle, Baseball – Calvin Martin, Boxing – Arlington Thompson, Cycling – George Curtis and Reginald Sears, Golf – Carlton Harris and Ambrose Gouthro, Soccer – Brad Bethel and Arthur Parris, Softball – Leona Roach, Carolyn Ferguson, Viola Roker, and Lenny Newton, Swimming – Robbie Butler, Tennis – Olivia Mackey and the Late Steve Dillet, America Football – Sherick ‘Sharky’ Martin and Phil Grant, Track & Field – Dudley Parker and Audrick Lightbourne, Rugby – Joe Harris, Volleyball – Helena Cooper and Oriel Knowles, and Sports Media – Ricardo Lightbourne.

#Several persons were elected posthumously: Bernard ‘Bunny’ Levarity, Basketball, Melanie Fester, Bodybuilding, Basil Hanna, Boxing, Nicole ‘Niki’ Johnson-Hepburn, Track & Field, Watewell Rigby, Sports Media, and Elson ‘Dusty’ Miller, Cricket.

#Tickets for the event are currently available through the office of the City of Freeport Council and as there is limited seating, patron of the event are asked to get theirs early.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#SPORTS Heritage week concluded when the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture officially welcomed its newest additions to the National Sports Hall of Fame.

#The 21-member class of 2013 joined the hallowed ranks in an induction ceremony at Government House Friday night.

#His Excellency the Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes presented each of the 17 living, and families of the four posthumous inductees, with framed “certificates of induction” and for the first time in Hall of Fame history, aquamarine commemorative blazers.

#Dr Gail North Saunders delivered the athletes’ response on behalf of her fellow classmates.

#“For me, and I think I speak for all other honourees, we never expected recognition. We trained, we competed, we did it with love for our nation and its people and it is with great humility that we accept the accolades that you have bestowed on us,” she said. “On behalf of the National Sports Hall of Fame of this year, I thank the government of the Bahamas and the minister and all the staff who have assisted with the plans for this wonderful celebration.”

#Dr Saunders said the prolific success the Bahamas has experienced in recent years in the international arena had its roots planted decades ago by members of the class of 2013.

#“Today’s athletes have benefitted from members of this class, building on their efforts to excel in their chosen fields, many who are being honoured today. We participated because we love sports and our country, we may not have become Olympians or set world records but we tried our best and inspired a younger generation which has done us so proud,” she said. “I can remember when Tommy Robinson was the only track athlete who stood a chance at medalling in the international arena and of course there was Sir Durward Knowles, who did us proud in sailing, but today of course all of this has changed.”

#Director of Sports, Tim Munnings, said the Hall of Fame gives the public an opportunity to learn more about the history of the country’s sporting icons.

#“My ministry had an opportunity to re-introduce these persons and I say re-introduce because they are the ones that laid the foundation,” he said. “They have been there and we have to remind everyone exactly what it is that they did. It is very easy to forget the persons that have gone before us. We must always remember the persons who were there first and set standards for all to follow.”

#Munnings, whose father Harold Munnings is an inductee, used his personal experience to exhibit how members of the class have been able to bridge a generational gap through their contributions.

#“I had an interesting time learning about all of these persons, including my own father, I learned some things that he was involved in that I did not even know. This is a bridge between the past and the future,” he said. “In 1960, my father was a chef de mission at the Rome Olympics and at those games, Rev Enoch Backford and Tommy Robinson competed. Thirty-six years later, Rev Enoch Backford was the chef de mission at the 1996 Olympics, I was an athlete at that time. Now I am following in their footsteps. What it means is that their are younger persons looking up to all of us how we perform and go about our various activities, so we have a responsibility to lead by example.”

#The E Clement Bethel National Drama Award winning St Francis and Joseph Catholic School students delivered a choral verse, in honour of the inductees.

#Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson underscored the importance of the award on enlightening the Bahamian public.

#“The National Sports Hall of Fame award was originally commissioned as a means to demonstrate the nation’s appreciation for past contributions made by sporting legends in various disciplines. It is very important that we continue to recognise our past sporting heroes simply because it is a continual reminder to our youth of the lives of these great Bahamian sportsmen and sportswomen of yesteryear,” he said.

#“As a people it is incumbent that we tangibly demonstrate how proud we are of the inductees which is a perfect representation of the high calibre of athletes and sports administrators and exemplary citizens our country has produced.”

#Detailed biographies of each inductee, including a history of the National Sports Hall of Fame, are available in a commemorative booklet printed to honour the occasion.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

‘Goose’ Lockhart

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE busy week of activities continued yesterday as the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture paid homage to the latest additions to the Bahamas Sports Hall of Fame.

#The class of 2013, which includes 21 inductees, were special guests in yesterday’s morning session of the House of Assembly and were treated to a luncheon by the department of sports.

#Osborne “Goose” Lockhart, former basketball star at the high school, collegiate and most notably, the professional level with the Harlem Globetrotters, gave the athletes’ response following the luncheon. “It is a great honour to be recognised by your country and I congratulate all the other inductees. I tell people all the time, we might be a small place but there is a lot of talent in this country. It is so important for these kids coming up to know that somebody before them reached a level in their sport, and came from the same places they came from. I have played in over 90 countries and there is nothing like when I hear ‘that is the first foreign born player to ever play for the Harlem Globetrotters.’

#“We really need to start recruiting all the talent we have in the country and developing them. These kids need to know that if I work hard, and if I do this, this and this, I can get to the top,” Lockhart said. “This has been a really good experience for me. The difference between us and someone else, we have a vested interest in these kids and seeing them succeed. It has been a great experience thus far, I got to see a lot of old faces, faces that I have not seen in a long time.”

#The induction ceremony for the 2013 class is scheduled for 7pm Friday, November 22, at Government House.

#Other events during the week of activities included the Sri Chimoy Oneness Home Peace Run, a church service at St Agnes, and school visits in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Exuma.

#Addressing the House of Assembly, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson called this year’s group, a “special class.”

#“This is a special class as we commemorate our 40th anniversary of our independent country. It has some notable individuals. Our ministry is very proud to stand here and congratulate their lives and examples they are to the nation. This is a very distinguished class. Our ministry poured over them for several months. All of them are heroes to us in their own regard. We love you with respect, today, we honour you,” he said. “Some of these persons, we feel still have some contribution to make to the development of sports, and we hope to call on some of them to assist us in the establishment of the Bahamas Sports Academy.”

#Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis also offered his congratulations to the inductees. “The contribution these individuals have made to Bahamian society can never be measured and I am happy that they are being honoured here today so the Bahamas can see what they have done. I think as we move to this new Bahamas of accountability and meritocracy we would be able to take ourselves in a position where we can say with confidence that the Bahamas takes care of its own. We cannot continue to just absorb and never give back,” he said.

#“I look forward to seeing these individuals’ pictures posted in facilities so that when Bahamians and other nationals throughout the world visit the Bahamas they can see who made such great contributions to the Bahamas and our young people can look forward to they themselves being placed on such a wall.”

#Director of sports, Tim Munnings, whose father Harold Munnings is a member of the 2013 class, said the Hall of Fame induction is a feat to be celebrated by Bahamians of all demographics.

#“Sports is one of those things that really crosses all barriers and brings everyone together. You may not have played a sport, but you know someone that played a sport, a child, grandchild some relative or some connection,” he said. “So honouring these 21 persons, for their contribution to national development, is fitting and should be celebrated by all.”

#The National Hall of Fame was established as a means to show the country’s appreciation to those contributors to sports whose exploits may have gone unnoticed in the past and, at the same time, deliver recognition to those who continue to shine for the Bahamas.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

OSBOURNE ‘Goose’ Lockhart

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#OSBOURNE ‘Goose’ Lockhart, the first foreign born player to participate on the world famous Harlem Globetrotters, will be honoured with two other former greats as Globetrotter Legends.

#Lockhart will join Michael ‘Wild Thing’ Wilson and Matt ‘Showbiz’ Jackson, who all played a combined 48 seasons and collectively visited nearly 200 countries during their time as Globetrotters. They will receive the team’s highest honour short of jersey retirement during their 2019 Fan Powered North American Tour.

#While Wilson was honoured on January 18 in Memphis and Jackson received his own on January 20 in Atlanta, Lockhart will collect his Legends ring on March 30 in Minneapolis.

#Created by the Globetrotters organisation in 1993, the “Legends” ring is presented to retired Globetrotters who have made a contribution to the success and development of the Hall of Fame organisation.

FROM left: Osbourne Lockhart, Matt ‘Showbiz’ Jackson and Michael ‘Wild Thing’ Wilson.

#Each honouree exemplifies the Harlem Globetrotters’ humanitarian contributions.

#“It’s a great honour. It’s a great honour,” said Lockhart when contacted by The Tribune for comments.

#“It puts me in the category with all of the greats like Meadowlark Lemon, Fred ‘Curly’ Neal, Marques Haynes, who was my first coach, James ‘Twiggy’ Sanders, so that’s big,” he said.

#As a superior ball handler and shooter during a 17-year career with the Globetrotters from 1978 to 1995, Lockhart said he just went out and did what he had to do to entertain the fans.

#“I went through some hardships as far as travelling,” said Lockhart, recalling his days as a foreign-born player with the team. “I had to change my passport just about every year because the pages were all filled out. “There were times when we got to countries, I was the one held back in that little room because I wasn’t an American. But it all worked out.”

#Following his playing days, Lockhart also spent two different seasons as the head coach of the Globetrotters in 1997 and 2000.

#The Globetrotters are currently in the midst of their 93rd year of touring with the Fan Powered World Tour, during which the team will play in more than 250 North American markets, as well as 30 countries worldwide.

#Compared to when he was a part of the team, Lockhart said the Globetrotters have gone through a major transition.

#“The team has changed a lot, as far as the show is concerned,” he said. “It’s catering more now to showmanship than actual basketball. “Today, they are playing less basketball than they used to play. But it’s still exciting. People still enjoy it. They have four teams on the road now. Back when I played, there was only two teams.”

#From his appearance on the team, three other Bahamians were able to follow in Lockhart’s footsteps. They were Kendal ‘Tiny’ Pinder, Ray Rose and Grand Bahamian Mario Greene. Nowadays, Lockhart lives in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he works as a case manager and coaches golf, basketball and soccer at the Harmony Development Center.

#Lockhart, a former member of the national soccer team at the 1971 Pan American Games, said he would love to bring the programme home, but he hasn’t found the right persons to connect with here.

#The 64-year-old was also remembered as a member of the “Jackson 5” that took Miami Jackson Senior High Generals basketball team to an unprecedented perfect 33-0 win-loss record in winning the Class 4A state championship.

#Following that milestone in 1973-74 with Bahamians Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, Charles Thompson and Cecil Rose (in addition to a Cuban), Lockhart went on to star for the University of Minnesota Gophers.

#“I tell people all the time that in high school, we were like rock stars,” Lockhart pointed out. “Most of the time, we only played a half of a game because the score was out of control by halftime.”

#As a three-year starter, Lockhart scored more than 1,100 college points and was team captain for the Gophers during his senior campaign.

#At the completion of college, Lockhart was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, but he was beaten out in the final guard spot by Maurice Cheeks.

#“I went into Philadelphia camp. I had a good camp, but everybody couldn’t make it,” Lockhart stated. “Maurice Cheeks was the only guy they kept. In fact, they sent our draft team to play in a tournament in Montana and we went undefeated there.

#“Me and Maurice Cheeks were room-mates. He’s a good player. It wasn’t any doubt that I had the talent to play in the NBA. I never took the time to go back and try out the following year.”

#Three days after he was released by the 76ers, Lockhart went to the Globetrotters camp and he was immediately picked up to play for them.

#The rest as they say was history.

#“No regrets. That’s just wasting time,” said Lockhart about not getting into the NBA like Mychal Thompson, who was the first foreign-born player selected in 1978 and went on to represent the Bahamas from 1978-1992, winning back-to-back titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1987-88.

#“I just moved on and enjoyed a great time with the Globetrotters.”

Jackson Five reunited (l-r) Roberto Gonzalez, Mychal Thompson, Coach Jake Caldwell, Osborne Lockhart and Charles Thompson all with their reunion rings.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

FELICITY DARVILLE

Charles Thompson, Coach Jake Caldwell, and Mychal Thompson.

#By FELICITY DARVILLE

#The year was 1973 – the glorious year of Independence for The Bahamas. There was a lot to be proud of. There was such a sense of pride in being Bahamian; having a flag of our own, a national anthem and a pledge. The people of The Bahamas were committed to moving forward, upward and onward together. Bahamians were making their presence felt in the world in many disciplines; among them – athletics.

#Bahamians who recall this time in our nation’s history know the story of The Jackson Five well. There were five teenage boys attending Miami Jackson Senior High School who were the starters on the basketball team, the Generals. Their prowess in the sport was so great that news of them spread through the country, across the United States and the Caribbean. The Miami Jackson Generals were such a force to be reckoned with they were nicknamed The Jackson Five. They dominated the basketball court – and four of them were Bahamians.

#By the time they came home to see the black, aquamarine and gold flag hoisted for the first time on July 10, 1973, they received a heroes’ welcome. The four teenagers included Mychal “Sweetbells” Thompson, Osborne “Goose” Lockhart, Cecil Rose, and the subject of today’s Face to Face – Charles “Old Cowheeler” Thompson. The fifth star team member was Julio Gonzalez, a Cuban refugee.

#“The Jackson Five was one of the great teams in the country (USA) of all time,” said coach Jake Caldwell, who led the Jackson Generals and is noted as one of Florida’s most successful basketball coaches.

#Coach Caldwell made his way to Nassau in 1972 to recruit Charles Thompson. He was already coaching Bahamian youths Osborne Lockhart and Copie Conyers who enrolled in the school a year earlier. Cecil Rose went over that summer to hang with them. They ended up telling coach Caldwell about Charles because he had the height and the girth to play basketball.

#Back then, the schooling system in The Bahamas went by “forms” and not “grades”. Charles was 15 and he had already completed form 5, which signalled the end of his high school career at Jordan Prince William in Nassau. However, in America he could continue high school and graduate at the age of 18. Coach Caldwell invited Charles to come to Miami Jackson. He also found the gifted Mychal Thompson at Queen’s College and together, they enrolled in Miami Jackson by the fall.

#In their junior year, The Jackson Five had 24 wins and just three losses. During the year of Independence, their success was being reported in sports news throughout the region, and Bahamians were proud. By 1974, the Generals had 33 wins and no losses, and they won the state championships. The boys received a plethora of trophies and accolades, and received commendations from the county and the mayor. To date, they are still the most highly recognised high school basketball team to ever play in the state of Florida.

#After graduation, it was time to say goodbye to their beloved coach and take advantage of the scholarships offered them for tertiary education. Charles and Cecil went off to the University of Houston, and Mychal and Osborne went on to the University of Minnesota.

Apostle Charles Thompson with his wife Francina and daughter Charmayne.

#Charles performed well at the University of Houston. He and Cecil were naturally starters on the basketball team there. They were in the top ten in terms of scorers at the school for many years and even now, are still in the top 15. At one point, Charles was the 8th top scorer of all time at UH. As seniors, the Bahamian pair made All-Conference. All four Jackson Five all-stars from The Bahamas successfully graduated from university, then eventually went on to be drafted by the NBA. Mychal Thompson made it furthest. He became the first basketball athlete from Miami to become the first overall draft pick, which happened during the 1978 draft. He played 14 seasons in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and eventually the Los Angeles Lakers, where his team won two NBA Championships.

#Charles ended up being drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 6th round. He didn’t make it to the final round, but he played professional basketball all around the world. He played in several countries including Italy, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Charles also played in the CBA (Continental Basketball League) and he was leading the league in scoring. He was scheduled to join Kansas City’s team but the same year, he ended up suffering a back injury. After the injury, Charles decided to returned to the University of Houston. There he took up graduate studies while serving as assistant basketball coach.

#Once he completed his degree, Charles moved back to Miami where he is still considered a hero in the sport. He entered the Dade County public school system as a teacher. He enjoyed an illustrious career in which he became a mentor to thousands of Florida kids in education and athletics. After more than a decade of teaching, he continued to be promoted and became an administrator. But his life took a devastating turn. He was introduced to drugs and eventually, it took tragic possession over his life.

#“Drugs are something I can tell you – as strong as you are, as intelligent as you are, it can take over you,” he shared. “I just couldn’t get a grip on it. I got so desperate on drugs I even tried to commit suicide. I went to 17 different treatment centres. I even went to a homeless treatment centre. I would leave my home and walk the street for drugs. I remember one time things got so bad I ate out of the garbage. I was desperate.

#“I had already been to one of the best treatment centres in the United States; it’s in Mississippi and top lawyers and doctors go there for rehab. My roommate was one of the top heart surgeons in the country. The professionals there – they were still not able to keep me off drugs.”

#Charles’ wife of 21 years, Francina is a teacher. She met him while he was an administrator in the school system. He was a single man (a divorced father of six) and was living his best life. “I was a supervisor in the job corps,” he said. “It’s a second-chance school where kids come and learn a trade when they fail high school. I was there for eight or nine years. So, I actually had two middle class salaries. I had a nice house with a Lexus and a Blazer in the garage. All my neighbours were white. I was being primed to become a principal and I was one of their best candidates. I had a great life.

#“She watched me go from that powerful administrator, her boss, to someone walking the streets with no shoes on.”

#He reached a point of despair and hopelessness, but he knew he wanted something more. He wanted to get his life back. He wanted to be back in his children’s lives. It meant everything to him. He made a decision to turn to the Bible. A preacher had given him some scriptures. He looked up the scriptures. They were speaking of deliverance.

#“I was studying the scriptures, and I went to God and asked him to deliver me because everything else had failed,” he said. “God had spoken to me before, and for me not listening, I went through four hard years of drug addiction. I was humiliated, embarrassed and fired from both jobs. I went to Him sincerely and I put His word to Him. I said, ‘God, this is what You said in Your word’. I would take it to Him three to four times a day. I picked up a yellow pad. I would break down the scriptures and go back to praying and writing. It was like a job for me. I did it every day for four months and I found all the scriptures on deliverance. I did it because I had nothing else left.”

#Nineteen years later, he is now Apostle Charles Thompson and leader of a growing flock in Miami. His church, Genuine Love Ministries is a testament of his walk from trial to triumph. I was able to attend a service recently and his sermon was so real, so inspirational and so moving that it got me up out of my seat, clapping my hands as he shared his testimony with the congregation. Members told me that every week, their pastor is so relatable and so real, without false pretences, that it makes them want to come each week to hear more of God’s word. They confide in him and they trust him, and he shamelessly lets them know about his own mistakes and shortcomings so that they would be confident that they, too, could overcome and make the best of themselves.

#“All of the crying and tears, the embarrassment and degradation – everything I went through was for me to be doing this now,” he said. “It was all for me to be able to help people. People come to my church and they are not judged, no matter what they may be going through. People have come to me whom the world said they were done. Three months later, their lives are completely changed for the better and people don’t even recognise them. I get excited about it because it’s a big deal for me. It’s amazing what God has done in my life and is allowing me to do in the lives of others.”

#The journey to becoming a pastor included Charles and his wife hosting marriage seminars to share their story and to show and prove that marriages can survive what may seem like insurmountable obstacles. The seminars were wildly successful. He and his wife were attending another church at the time and they were blessed with a daughter, Charmayne. Charles even authored his first book. But, he felt there was an even greater calling on his life. He called his brother in Nassau, Rev Dr William Thompson (former president of the Bahamas National Baptist Council and current vice president of the World Baptist Council) and told him he felt the call to ministry. His brother prayed on it and came back with the word that he should start immediately. On September 12, 2001, Genuine Love Ministries was born after he was ordained by Rev Dr Iris Troy. His big brother travelled to Miami not long after to officially bless him and the church.

#Apostle Charles comes from a religious background. He was raised in a “strict, Godly house” by parents Lloyd and Lorana (nee Evans) Thompson. They made sure that church was a “non-negotiation” for their children William, Vernamae, Margaret, Harrison, Rubyann, Charles, Anthony and David.

#“What I am doing takes all of me,” said Apostle Charles, who devotes his time to dutifully ministering to his members. “There is a big picture for Genuine Love, and it will impact the world.”

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

FELICITY DARVILLE

#By FELICITY DARVILLE

#I recently met an unsung hero on First St, The Grove – a gem right among the people with a lifetime of giving and serving to share. Those of the generation before me may know his name. But all too often, wonderful people like Sam Williams get lost in the stories of today, when young people could benefit from learning of people like him and find their own way to make a similar or even greater impact.

#Sam Williams is known as “the Marathon Man” of The Bahamas. Long before marathons gained the popularity they have today, Sam was running and organising marathons and always for a good cause. He was the top long distance runner in the late 1970s and early 80s. He didn’t just make a name for himself running; he made a name for himself because of his big heart. He utilised his passion for running and love of country to promote many good causes for the benefit of the community. He organised races for heart and kidney foundations, for youth groups and churches all over the country. When Sam ran, he ran with a purpose bigger than himself, and for this reason, others saw his good deeds and contributed generously to the causes he championed.

Sam Williams in action.

#Well-known sports columnist Fred Stirrup wrote of him: “I recall Sam ‘Marathon Man’ Williams during the 1970s. No other has been as successful in distance running locally. There was a time when he was the outright favourite every time he took to the track or the road or the field. Indeed, he was a versatile distance standout.

#“The man was a champion on the track, on the road and in cross country. He stayed on top for years. Imagine the dedication, the resolve demonstrated by Williams. I can attest that he had an unwavering spirit when it came to training. Williams went all out at great expense to condition himself, physically and nutritionally, to withstand the demand of distance running. He did not have a personal nutritionist available. He got no assistance from the BAAA (Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association) in terms of his preparation for races. Williams operated in isolation, because of the system of the day. He got no subvention, nothing at all. What he wasn’t able to scrap up in donations had to come out of his pockets. However, he had an iconic and nationalistic outlook. God gave him a talent and he did his very best to maximize the gift.

#“Sam Williams was a standard bearer for long distance running in The Bahamas. His resilience and the proactive nature of others of his ilk, should serve as motivation for the parent body for track and field in the country to expand its national development programme.”

#To date, the emphasis is still on the sprinters who have shone internationally in World Games, Olympics, Carifta and so many other events, putting The Bahamas on the map for many who may not have heard of us. But there still remains a grand opportunity to nurture and develop the talents of young people with a knack for long distance running – and Sam can prove he still has much to offer to his country. For the moment, he is still chilling in his yard on First Street, taking the time to speak to the young people in his community; but he could be doing so much more. He is still fit and can be seen walking where he has to go when visiting neighbours, going to the store and so on.

#Sam is no stranger to teaching children. After graduating from Western Senior High School, he attended Camden County College in New Jersey. Upon his return to New Providence, he taught physical education at C.I. Gibson High School. During his teaching career, he also taught children at what was the Girls and Boys Industrial Schools. On his Bain Town stomping grounds, he rallied the young people together and created the Bain Town Flyers Track Club.

#He developed the Sir Milo Butler Memorial Road Race in the 1980s and received support from Mrs Butler and sponsors like the Nassau Cable Beach Paradise Island Promotion Board. When the government of the day was considering naming a newly-built highway after Nelson Mandela, Sam went into action and petitioned until he rallied enough support to convince the government to name it after one of our own national heroes: Sir Milo Butler. He also agitated for the Tonique Williams Highway to be named in honour of the Golden Girl who grew up in the Yellow Elder area. He says the once popular Bahama Games was his brainchild. The idea came to him, he says, because he would travel to various islands hosting sporting clinics, and noticed the massive potential of Family Island students to become sporting greats for the country.

#Sam is the founder of the Bahamas Loving Care Association, one which was well-known for philanthropic efforts on a national scale. The association started out with Sam reaching out to people right in Bain Town who needed help. There were homes in need of desperate repair, people living in derelict conditions who needed help. Sam was able to rally government and private agencies to help these people, as he points out, long before Urban Renewal programmes came into existence.

Proud to have made a contribution to executives at the AIDS camp.

#Bahamas Loving Care once held a “Celebration of Life” ceremony to pay tribute to the heroes who rendered assistance to passengers of Southern Air after a plane crash. The association, which has been in existence for more than 40 years, held walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons and helped raise money for numerous worthy causes, including sickle cell anaemia, HIV/AIDS, the kidney foundation, the Salvation Army, hurricane relief and disaster relief efforts in Haiti and Africa. The group also held competitions in inner city communities for the best kept home and yard, agitated for stevedores at Prince George Wharf to have proper safety gear, and raised money for poop sacks to be placed in the back of the horses that frequent Bay and Shirley Streets, ultimately making these main thoroughfares much cleaner. On another occasion, Sam and Bahamas loving care arranged for 250 senior citizens to leave the old folks homes and enjoy a full day’s boat cruise and luncheon.

#“I just love helping people; I have a calling on me to do the Lord’s work,” Sam said. “My mother died in childbirth. My grandmother and stepmother raised me. I feel I have to give back to the country.”

#The father of five and grandfather of five has so much to offer and isn’t giving up. He was active in agitating for sign language experts to take the stage at rallies during general elections. He is currently pushing to see sign language implemented at all major churches so the deaf can receive the messages of the Gospel.

#He is the recipient of numerous awards including: inducted by Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest into the National Sports Hall of Fame 1995 at Government House; First Caribbean Unsung Heroes 2007; Marathon Bahamas 2010 Pioneer in Long Distance Running; plaque of appreciation from Sir Milo Butler’s family in 2001; and many others.

#Apex Awards called him: “A special man who cares enough to make time for others… someone who knows that giving makes living a pleasure.”

#Sam Williams has friends far and wide internationally. He operated a limousine service for years and made an impact on the tourists who came to visit. One Canadian wrote of him on their blog: “In becoming an avid traveller to The Bahamas, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting what I term “beautySpirits”, both Bahamians and non-Bahamians, who exhibit such selfless love and service to the country that one cannot help but view them as marvellous blessings to the Bahamas. One is Sam “Marathon Man” Williams. Sam, a dedicated Bahamian patriot, has involved himself in serving the needs of the less fortunate residents of the country through his work as founder/president of the Bahamas Loving Care Association.

#“When a young Bahamian lost her mother and brother through a murder/suicide at the hand of her father, the Bahamas Loving Care Association spearheaded a drive to provide a scholarship for the deserving young lady. When a courageous Bahamian, Victor “Easy” King sacrificed his life in rescuing several children from their burning home, Sam immediately put forth a ceaseless effort (which continues to this day) to have this Bahamian hero appropriately honoured there in his country. Sam is a dynamic servant to the beautiful Bahamian land of his birth and he can always be found working ardently on the behalf of Bahamian citizens in need of a voice, love, and recognition. He is a beautySpirit whose contributions should go down in the annals of Bahamian history.”

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

FELICITY DARVILLE

Edwin A Smith

#By Felicity Darville

#When Edwin A Smith was a little boy growing up in Bain Town in the 1950s, there were great Bahamian athletes making it to the big leagues in baseball or track and field. So, little boys had much to aspire to if they wished to become a professional athlete. But Ed, who spent his afternoons shooting marbles, flying kites, playing stick ball, wrestling, or swimming on Long Wharf beach during the summers, had no idea at the time he would one day make Bahamian history as the first to go pro in an entirely different sport.

#The Smiths were living in Bain Town but as the family grew, they moved to Martin Street in Grants Town and a three-bedroom house. Ed is one of nine siblings, and recalled the boys shared a room and the girls did the same. Back in the day in this Over-the-Hill community, the neighbourhood was filled with children. Television wasn’t there to distract them; so for the most part, evenings were spent sitting on the wall sharing stories and talking about movies they had seen.

#“These were humble beginnings,” Ed shared, “But in our minds we never lacked anything.”

#“Food was always on the table. My parents made sure we were fed every day. My mother worked tirelessly to make sure our clothes were clean and we had everything we needed as kids. Mom would be so exhausted from working during the day that she would take a nap around sundown after she fed us. She would wake up around nine o’clock and make sure everyone was in the house and accounted for. If I was not in the house by that time, she would come looking for me. She didn’t like having to come out of her warm bed to look for me. She would threaten to let my dad know and that would strike fear in my heart. So the next morning I would go to mass (at St Joseph’s Catholic Church nearby) and this way, I would avoid punishment.”

#Ed’s parents Elexion Smith and Elizabeth Smith (nee Brown) were industrious and set “good examples” for their nine children – Bernadette Moss (now Pastor), Edwin, Arlene Wilson, the late Sharon Brennen, David, Chris, Kim Moultrie, Joyann Thurston and Keith.

#His paternal grandfather was Alex Smith, who owned a construction company and worked on the large gospel hall on Meadow and Augusta Streets. His paternal grandfather was Edward “Wykie” Brown who was an entrepreneur and had an interest in the world-famous Silver Slipper nightclub as well as the Elk’s Lodge on Blue Hill Road.

#His great-grandmother Justina Dixon (nee Meadows) had a major impact on his life. His mother was a twin, but her twin and her mother died in childbirth. Justina raised Elizabeth, and after getting married, she lived in a house right next to her grandmother on Meadow Street – the house in which Edwin was born. He recalls that people would say that when his parents got married in 1947, it was a “big occasion”.

#Elexion was a construction contractor and after marriage, he became the owner of two taxi cabs. Elizabeth was a homemaker with an entrepreneurial spirit. Initially, she would buy fresh fish and vegetables and resell them from a stall in the front of her home on Meadow Street. Then, she saw another opportunity – on weekends, she would sell conch salad and fritters, fried fish, potato bread and souse at a gambling house just down the street. This was great for the owner, who would call her and place the orders for his patrons, who were all the more likely to stay longer considering their food was being delivered to them.

#She duplicated this weekend effort by setting up a stall near Super Value Supermarket on Meadow Street, close to the home she grew up in. On weekends, the older children would pitch in and help keep the business going, with one of her daughters manning the Meadow Street stall while she maintained her other customers and kept the fish and vegetable stall going in front of the home.

Ed and Pia with their children, Danielle and Alex.

#First, Ed attended Mother Donaldson kindergarten with my father, Allan Ingraham, who became his lifelong friend. Then, he attended Western Primary followed by Western Junior, also with my father. For high school, his parents sent him to St Augustine’s College. He would ride his bicycle with a caravan of other kids from the neighbourhood who also attended the school.

#After school, the bike ride from Fox Hill to Bain Town was filled with short cuts where the boys could pick cherries, gu gu fruit, sapodillas, oranges and grapefruit on the way home. It was a great start to his high school career; but just over a year later, everything shifted.

#Ed’s uncle, Chris Wilkinson, a lieutenant in the police force in Colorado, invited him to come over and live with him.

#“He figured that this would afford me more opportunities to go to college and get a better education,” Ed said.

#“I was 14 years old. I was ready to go. I was pretty excited about the opportunity. I made a couple trips to Miami when I was younger, but an opportunity to live in the United States and be exposed to that brand of lifestyle that I saw in the movies was something I was looking forward to.

#“I flew by myself from Nassau to Miami and then from Miami to Denver. My uncle, his wife and two children were at the airport to meet me. They took me home, fed me dinner, and it was all you can eat! Going from nine kids at the dinner table to just three – there was lots of food and you could have seconds!”

#Ed fit in well in his new lifestyle. First, he attended East High School and tried out for baseball because he had experience in that sport, like so many other Bahamian boys. When his Uncle Chris’ family moved to a new neighbourhood, he attended George Washington High School. There, he tried out for track and field, baseball, and football.

#Ed had good height and girth but still didn’t get an opportunity to become a starter on the football team, because the other players were so much more advanced than he was.

#In The Bahamas, even today, there are few opportunities for youngsters to be exposed to the sport, which is considered relatively expensive compared with popular local sports like basketball, track and field, swimming or baseball. Ed would be the guy holding the dummies the starters would run into. He wasn’t in a position to attract the bigger institutions like Colorado State University or the University of Colorado, because he had only played a few junior varsity games. However, opportunity came knocking.

#Some recruiters from Colorado College were visiting George Washington High, looking for student football athletes with high academic scores. Colorado College, a liberal arts college nestled at the foot of the Rocky mountains and Colorado Springs, was a renowned academic school. The college’s football coach also happened to be the assistant director of admissions. He was looking for athletes who didn’t have a scholarship and could meet the academic requirements of the school. Ed was one of them.

#He attended a college with a population of about 1,500 where a lot of privileged kids with their lives “already set” came to do some school work, but also to party and ski and have fun. For Ed, he knew how important this opportunity was for him. So he buckled down in his work and also football, rugby and track and field, excelling in all areas. There, he became an all-state rugby player and an all-American football player.

#“I started playing tight end,” he said.

#“But I wore glasses at the time. When they threw the ball to me, I was dropping the ball because I didn’t want to wear my glasses. So that didn’t work out. The coach then decided to put me on the defensive end and I became quite comfortable. I found a home there and that is when I began to blossom into becoming an all-American football player.”

#“I got word that scouts were looking at me as a possible draft choice which was unheard of at the time, with Colorado being such a small school. To hear that I was being looked at in that light was pretty amazing because I wasn’t at any of the big schools. Places like Notre Dame is where they came to find their pro ball players.”

#Ed was back home in The Bahamas thinking about what his next big venture would be, having just graduated college. Then, he got the call of his life – “the Denver Broncos drafted me in the 13th round”.

#He said: “It was pretty exciting! Growing up, pro football was something we saw as entertainment more so than something we could participate in. But once I started playing, I found myself getting better and better every year. There was no one for me to emulate at home. There were pro baseball players but no pro football players. My next step was to get on a plane and get out of Nassau and start training as quickly as possible.”

#Back in Colorado, Uncle Chris encouraged him to get up at 5am and start training every day to prepare for football camp. He gave Ed a pair of his old army boots, and Ed ran in the sand in those boots for hours every morning. Going to pro camp was daunting, but his uncle told him that “those guys put on their jock straps like you do – they are looking for an opportunity just like you”.

#When it was time for Broncos camp, that summer training paid off as Ed was recording the fastest time as a lineman, defensive and offensive player. He was excellent at the agility drills. He heard the defensive line coach say “this guy is going to be hard to get rid of”.

Sisters seated from right, Bernadette Moss, Kim Moultrie, Elizabeth Smith (mom), JoyAnne Thurston, Arlene Wilson, Pia Smith (wife); (standing) Dave Thurson, Clifford Moss (brothers in law), Sharon Brennen (deceased sister), Chris and Dave Smith (brothers), Steven Brennen and Halston Moultrie (brothers in law), Ed Smith.

#When the Broncos went into pre-season games, the first game was against the Washington Redskins. Ed’s first professional sack was against the Redskins’ quarterback, Sunny Jergenson. My father was in that camp as well. The difference was that Ed (who became my godfather) had some experience, albeit late, from playing college football, whereas Allan was brought on as a free agent. He never had any experience in learning the technicalities of the sport, but was picked up from a game at the Priory Grounds when the Redskins’ coach was vacationing in The Bahamas and saw my father’s outstanding talent. It made a difficult learning curve for my father, but he is recorded as having played impressively in those pre-season games.

#Ed made the final cut, and became the first Bahamian to be drafted to the National Football League of America. He had a rookie roommate named Bonnie Chavis from South Carolina State. They both made the cut and when it was time for the pro season, they got an apartment together in Denver and prepared for the career of their lives as a part of the 53-man squad.

#It was a time when the Broncos wanted to turn their reputation around from a losing team to a winning team, and Rose-Bowl winning coach John Ralston was in charge. Ed was playing better and better. He received a game ball during a big thanksgiving game in Detroit and with this success, he became a starter on the team.

#In his third year, Ed received a bad injury to his knee during practice and tore ligaments that resulted in him being in a cast from his hip to his ankle. He developed blockage of the veins and doctors prohibited him from playing in the event that the clots in his leg travelled to his heart during play, creating a fatal situation.

#“That was a tough moment,” Ed shared.

#“I enjoyed playing in the NFL. It became difficult to stay in Denver because all of my friends were playing and I am sitting there injured saying, ‘wow’. So, I made a decision to come back to Nassau.”

#Back home, Ed opened his own nightclub, Cumberland House, near to Government House and Graycliff Hotel. He operated the successful club for six years and, for the last of those, his girlfriend in Colorado, Pia, moved to Nassau and worked at St Augustine’s College as a teacher.

#But Ed decided it was time to change his life and start a family. The couple moved back to Colorado and got married. Pia became a professor and Ed got into the banking industry, and they became the parents of Alex and Danielle. Danielle would grow up to excel in track and field and even represented The Bahamas during the Carifta Games. Alex followed in his father’s footsteps and became an NFL player with 11 years and excellent statistics behind his name. He now has twin boys, Aiden and Amari.

#Ed has always had a lot of pride in being Bahamian. He keeps in regular touch with his Bahamian comrades such as my father and Terrance Roberts. He recently celebrated his birthday here and it was announced that he will serve as the honorary ambassador for the upcoming Bahamas Bowl.

#He is strong in his faith and also recently attended a church service led by his sister, Pastor Bernadette where he was the guest speaker, and 90th birthday celebrations for his mother. His father died in 1985 of cancer of the bone marrow.

#It was always inspiring for me, knowing that I have a godfather who made history. But by interviewing him for this column, I learned so much more about a man who shows that no matter how humble your beginnings, and no matter the obstacles in your way, you can live up to the greatness destined for you with great vision, sheer determination and razor-sharp focus.

BACK TOGETHER AGAIN: Shown (l-r) are Deyton Albury, coach Jamal Smith and Garrett Edgecombe.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#For the first time since they were members of the Temple Christian Suns about two years ago, coach Jamal Smith got a chance once again to work with point guard Deyton Albury and forward Garrett Edgecombe.

#The trio hooked up last week to participate in the first in a series of AAU basketball tournaments for boys in the United States. As a part of the Carolina Defenders, they went 3-0 in a tournament in North Carolina.

#This weekend, the Carolina Defenders will be back in action at the Big Shots Tournament at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center in South Carolina. They start playing on Thursday with games shown live on demand at BallerTV.com.

#“This is like a reunion because when we were at Temple Christian, we had an awesome team,” said Smith, who spent the past year in the United States coaching basketball.

#“These guys in particular showed a lot of promise and that they had the ability to play at the next level. So being in a position where I am in a position with the Carolina Defenders, I am glad that I could give them the platform to display their skills.”

#Smith, who relished the days he coached the duo at Temple Christian, said Albury and Edgecombe will have a chance to play against some of the top high school players who have been recruited by division one basketball this year.

#“For Deyton, in particular, I think he had a very strong year at Sunrise Christian Academy and so I expect him him to just build on that,” Smith said.

#“The competition level is good for him. I think he will rise to the occasion and be the player that we have known him to be. He just has an awesome weekend and an even awesome month.

#“When it comes to Garrett, I expect him to be the same kind of defensive force that he was when he played for Temple Christian. This is going to be an adjustment period for him because with his size, he will have to play more on the wing, but I think he can adjust to it.”

#After being sidelined from his Sunrise Academy team since March due to the spread of the coronavirus that halted all sporting events worldwide, Albury said it was good to be back in the United States and playing again.

#“I was happy to get back on the court and playing basketball again,” said the 18-year-old Albury, who left town on July 1 when the borders reopened to get acclimated with his new team.

#During the month of July, the Carolina Defenders are expected to participate in at least five tournaments and at least 30-40 games. Hopefully, they will be successful where they can end up playing in another tournament in August to wrap up the tour.

#“A lot of the tournament directors are taking the necessary preventive measures. They check your temperatures at the door and you must wear your mask to get in,” Smith said.

#“The spectators are limited because they are only allowing a few to come in and watch their team when they play and you have to leave the gym when you are done. So they are trying to deal with the social distancing to prevent any outbursts.”

#With all of the safety measures in place, Albury, who was a two-sport star at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel-Aire, Kansas where he was featured on their state championship football team, said he’s just concentrating on playing basketball.

#“I’m just happy to be on the court,” stated the 6-foot, two-inch guard.

#“I’m not worrying about it. I’m wearing my mask and sanitising, so I’m good. I feel safe in the environment we’re playing in.”

#As for his performance so far where he averaged about eight assists, seven steals and 12 points, Albury said he just wanted to get back in the flow of things as he reunited with Edgecombe and Smith as they prepare for the Big Shots Tournament this weekend.

#“We’ve been playing together for a long time, so the chemistry was always there between us,” said Albury of teaming up with Edgecombe on the court. “It’s just a matter of getting into the rotation with the other guys and seeing how they play.”

#Edgecombe, an 18-year-old six-foot, three-inch forward, said it was good to be playing with Albury again, especially since they haven’t done anything since the start of COVID-19.

#“Every player on our team has been holding up their end of the bargain,” Edgecombe said. “I feel like me and Deyton will make a big difference on this team because we know how each other play.

#“The tempo is a lot faster than I expected, but I’ve made the adjustment. It just feels great to be back on the hardware floor playing basketball again. I’m liking it.”

#Albury, who graduated from Sunrise Academy with a 3.50 grade point average, said when they got the news that they would also be playing for coach Smith, they got even more excited because they remember the success they enjoyed at Temple Christian.

#And Edgecombe said despite the fact that there’s very little fans in the stands to cheer them on, they feed off each other and that has been one of the reasons for their success so far.

#“For the tournament coming up, I expect that we will finish on top and we can go as far as we can go as a team,” Edgecombe said. “Coach Smith has really been a big inspiration for us too.”

#While Albury left Temple Christian to complete his high school days at Sunrise Christian Academy, Edgecombe moved on to Galilee Academy. Both are looking at playing at two different prep schools in South Carolina over the next year before they look at entering the collegiate ranks.

#Carolina Defenders, according to Smith, have about four players who combined have already received over 30 division one offers. He said they have an all-around team that can shoot the ball and play solid defence.

#So based on the personnel they have with the addition of Albury and Edgecombe, they should be able to continue the winning streak that they started last week.

Deyton Albury

Monday, September 2, 2019

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEYTON Albury is known for putting up big numbers on the basketball court.

#But he may be a two-sport star on the rise after his debut on the gridiron.

#Albury returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, rushed for 120 yards and another touchdown to help his Sunrise Christian Academy Buffaloes to a 56-6 win over the Cornerstone Spartans on Saturday in Bel Aire, Kansas.

#A newcomer to football, Albury played running back and also had an immediate impact on special teams.

#Albury joined the Buffaloes programme for his prowess on the basketball court, following in the steps of Buddy Hield, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr, Travis Munnings and several other Bahamian players who have matriculated to the NCAA Division I level.

#Albury recently averaged 19.4 points and four assists on 53.2 per cent shooting during the Under-17 Centrobasket tournament that saw the Bahamas qualify for the U-18 Americas Championship.

#Locally, Albury was a star guard for the Temple Christian Suns and was an All-Tournament selection at the National High School Basketball Championships last April.

#Along with Romad Dean, he received the opportunity of a lifetime when he was selected to represent the Bahamas at the 10th Basketball Without Borders camp, hosted by the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Colombian Basketball Federation (FCB) last June in Medellin, Colombia.