The Tribune

Leonard Peter “Skinny”

Archer (1931-2014)

By Martin Lundy

LEONARD Peter “Skinny” Archer found personal illumination in the advice of ancient Rome’s famous General, Marcus Aurelius, that propriety, dignity and even majesty should measure in the performance of every human act, and that even those most humble possess particles of value likewise found in highest heaven.

In that regard, Archer’s subscription to such a truth radiated in all his successes, commencing from his earliest days at St Francis Primary School; from his formative years at St Augustine’s College; from his time at Taylor Industries where he enjoyed a lifelong profession, from his boyhood days in track and field; from his time in St Bernard’s Sporting Club where he played cricket, softball, baseball, and blossomed into one of the best front court players in local basketball; from the era when his SACA teams dominated local volleyball; from the time when his national volleyball team excelled internationally, to the productive period of his presidency of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation and founding member of the track and field officials association (BACO).

Archer’s lengthen of limbs earned him the endearing nickname, “Skinny”, during his boyhood days.

As the fourth of nine children, he commenced his early education at St Francis Primary School and later matriculated to St Augustine’s College where he was among the select few in that school’s very first class in1945, then accommodated at the Priory Grounds in a small building called the Bungalow.

He continued when the school moved to its present site in Fox Hill, after which he obtained a job as an electrician’s helper at Taylor Industries, eventually obtaining both single and three-phase electrical licences.

In one form or another, he served at that historic establishment for life.

Naturally gifted and physically endowed, Archer was a multi-sport athlete, playing softball, basketball, baseball, cricket and track and field at the school level as well as for St Bernard’s Sporting Club.

He played second base and right field on both softball and baseball teams, all coached by Charles Williams (the late). Some of his outstanding teammates in baseball included Godfrey Pinder, James Coakley, Lou Adderley, John “Money” Green, Garland Bain, James Wood, Jesse “Butkus” Ferguson, Vince Ferguson, Joe McPhee, Joe Jones, Harry Miller, and Everett Archer.

In basketball, he was the prototypical centre, contributing to his club’s four unbroken string of championships, from 1956 to 1959.

In fact, in that era, he was regarded as a challenger to the post play superiority of a retired Kendal G L Isaacs, whose Dragons basketball team had previously reigned as undefeated champions for four consecutive calendar years.

Some notables among Archer’s St Bernard’s basketball teammates were the prized Prince “Heads” McIntosh, Everett Archer, Charles Wright, Newton Bain, Basil Sands, Fred North, Ralph Rolle, and the great “Cedric Wolf” Woodside.

A talented volleyball player competing for many years both locally and internationally, he was a member of the very first Bahamian National Volleyball Team which competed at the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games in Kinston, Jamaica where The Bahamas won its first international volleyball match, finishing seventh out of a field of 12 countries. His leadership in the sport was recognised when he was elected as president of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, a post which he held for eight years.

In that period, he caused the development of a junior national training programme that eventually produced international elite teams that rose to high ranking as a world power.

He also caused the expansion of volleyball to the Family Islands, with associations being established in Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma, Long Island, Andros and Inagua.

As a talented musician, capable of playing multiple instruments, Leonard Archer used these other gifts in his church, St Francis Xavier Cathedral, to which his devoted commitment was firm and unequivocal. There he served as a member of the choir and then its director.

Indeed then, in all the dimensions of his life, Leonard Peter Archer did adhere to the advice of Marcus Aurelius because he manifested propriety, dignity and majesty in all phases of his life, clearly demonstrating that he saw in even those of most humble means, particulate matters of value likewise found in highest heaven.

In recognition thereof, His Excellency, the Governor General of The Bahamas inducted him into the National Hall of Fame in 2012.