The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH he left at the age of 56, there are some persons who feel that Minister Roosevelt Thompson has gone too soon, but they will always remember his witty and jovial attitude that he shared with everybody he came in contact with.

The 36-year retired veteran Royal Bahamas Defense Force Officer was laid to rest in Woodlawn Gardens on Saturday after a full military service at New Covenant Baptist Church.

Known as ‘Mr Starter,’ Thompson served with distinction in the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) as the chief starter for many local and international races, especially the Carifta Games. He also officiated in a number of USA Track and Field events.

Dr Bernard Nottage, the Minister of National Security, called Thompson an extraordinary man who provided a service to those in need.

Thompson joined the RBDF just two weeks after it was established in March, 1980 when the drug trade in the Caribbean was at its peak, Dr Nottage revealed. He was awarded numerous citations for his exemplary performance.

During his tenure on the RBDF, Thompson also served as protocol officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He went on to become the head coach for Special Olympics Bahamas and the team member for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in India and the director for the Special Olympic Bahamas’ Torch Run.

Captain Tellis A Bethel, the acting commodore for the RBDF, said he always recalled how Thompson, when he got a promotion, turned around and told him that he was going to be promoted even further.

At one point, Bethel recalled how Thompson challenged him to a foot race when they were in Andros. Bethel said he won that race, but Thompson refused to accept the defeat and told him he wanted a rematch.

If there was anything special about Thompson, Bethel said it was the fact that he wanted to be just like his spiritual father, the Rev Dr Simeon Hall, and could be often heard on the RBDF base emulating the pastor emeritus of the New Covenant Baptist Church.

In the eulogy, Hall said Thompson was the consummate servant. He recalled how on one of their visits to a Caribbean island how Thompson checked him into the hotel and disappeared for about three hours.

When he finally returned, Hall said he questioned Thompson, who told him that as he was a “celebrity,” he went to the police station to ensure that he got some police escort during his trip to the conference that he was attending.

During the service, one of the members of BACO, Father Curtis Robinson, formerly from Christ the King, said he had to come in from Grand Bahama where he now serves, to pay his last respects to his friend and brother.

Rev Denzil Rolle and Friends provided their tribute in song, recalling how Thompson abused his protocol privilege by playing an instruction on stage during a live recording of one of their tapes. Rolle said that was just Thompson, who felt he had to be in charge wherever he went.

Thompson left behind his wife Helen and two sons, Roosevelt Jr and Rashad Thompson. Thompson Jr has followed in his father’s footsteps as a member of the RBDF.