The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CHARLES ‘Chuck’ Mackey, an outstanding local softball/ baseball player and coach, and an exceptional basketball coach at both the high school and national team level, died on Wednesday night.

Aside from his tremendous sporting background, Mackey was also a renowned senior master at the RM Bailey High School and principal at St John’s College.

Godfrey ‘Gully’ Burnside, a former president of the New Providence Softball Association, who had the pleasure of coaching Mackey as a member of the T-Bird Flyers softball team, said Mackey will be missed as an individual who gave so much to the country.

“Chuck Mackey to me was a silent killer, one who came every night and gave his best. He was one of those guys who was really interested in young men in the sports of basketball, baseball and softball,” Burnside reflected.

“He was responsible for taking a lot of young men off the street and giving them a better appreciation for life as a principal, teacher and mentor in the classroom and a role model to emulate on and off the field.”

When he played with the Flyers as a catcher, Burnside said Mackey was able to groom a number of young players, who went on to become some of the countries top players, just like he did with others in basketball.

“He was able to bring a sense of stability to a lot of young men’s lives. He was loved. He was one of those guys who was always cheerful. He would always share a joke or made himself available to do anything. He will really be missed in the school and sporting arena.”

Mario Bowleg, president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, had nothing but admiration for Mackey, who served as a national basketball coach and a mentor for many young coaches, including himself. “The federation was well aware of Chuck’s medical condition and confinement and ailing health over the last couple of years,” Bowleg said.

“However, the BBF’s sense of loss is not diminished.

“At this time, it is sufficient to emphasise that Charles Mackey was an ultimate professional, a contributor to national development and a true friend of sports.

“His varied contributions to the nation should not be overlooked or forever forgotten.”

While it is another painful experience to endure, Bowleg said the BBF extends its condolences to the Mackey family, friends, his colleagues in education, the coaching fraternity, team-mates and the entire nation on the loss of a gentleman and fine human being who can provide no more instructions from the bench or in the classroom.

Varel Davis, the president of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association, called Mackey a father figure who devoted his time to sharing his expertise with her and others as coaches on the national team.

She said when one talked about “professionalism,” Mackey embodied it, as she expressed the sentiments on behalf of the members of the GSSSA, whom he served as a long-time coach for the Pacers senior boys’ basketball team and administrator at RM Bailey.

And on a personal note, Davis said Mackey “always had a pep in his walk that me and him always joked about. Walk that walk.”