The Tribune

National

Hall of Fame

induction set for Friday

By BRENT STUBBS

Sebnior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE National Hall of Fame will be increased by 14 when the 2012 Class is enshrined on Friday night.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture announced yesterday that during the National Sports Heritage Week that got started on Sunday, the induction ceremony is slated for 7pm Friday at the Wyndham Nassau Resort Hotel on Cable Beach.

The inductees, who are selected based on their contribution to the development of sports in the Bahamas, will include the following:

Cyril ‘Peepsight’ Johnson, Leroy ‘Skinny’ Archer, Dewitt ‘Flash’ Hanna, Lorenzo ‘Doni’ Lockhart, Leslie ‘Russia’ Cartwright, Edward ‘Eddie’ Ford, Keith ‘Belzee’ Smith, Peter Bowe Sr, Oscar Francis, Irrington ‘Rinky’ Isaacs, Charles ‘Butkus’ Ferguson, Dame Bertha Isaacs, Charlie Williams and Sir George Roberts.

The inductees were nominated by persons in the sporting community, federations and stakeholders, according to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson.

“Before these people are considered, they must meet the requirements set by my ministry and finally, the list of nominations are also sent into Cabinet for approval,” Johnson said.

The list, made up of the seventh class of inductees, now pushes the total number of Bahamians honoured to 89.

The initial induction was held in 1989 when Tommy Robinson, Sir Durward Knowles, Cecil Cooke, Andre Rodgers and Elisha Obed made up the class.

The second class was held in 2003 with the following inducted: Roderick Simms, Robery ‘Bobby’ Symonette, Sloan Farrington, Charlie Major Sr, Deacon Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley, Kingsley Poitier, Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller, Tony Curry, Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, Vincent Ferguson, Betty Cole and John Sands.

In 2008, the third class was held with Sterling ‘Robert Lloyd’ Quant, Peter ‘PaB’ Bethell, Tom ‘the Bird’ Grant, Hubert Wong, Winston ‘Gus’ Cooper, Winston ‘Tappy’ Davis, Captain Bertram ‘Rollie’ Gray, Dr Bernard Nottage, William ‘Yama Bahama’ Butler, Churchill Tener Knowles, Delroy Armbrister, Henry Crawford, Edison ‘Ed’ Armbrister, Betty Kelly-Kenning and Fred ‘Papa’ Smith.

Prime Minister Perry Christie headed the Class of 2009 that also included Bradley Cooper, Florence ‘Flo’ Rolle, Cliff Wilson, Doyle Burrows, Richard ‘the Lion-Heart’ Johnson, Timothy Barrett, Glen Wells, Ed Smith, Errol Bodie, Bob Isaacs, Wentworth Ford, Leon ‘Apache’ Knowles and Anthony Carroll.

The 2000 class comprised of Basil Trevor Kelly, Gorman ‘Gomeo’ Brennen, Sharon ‘the General’ Storr, Earl ‘Sweet Pete’ Brown, Leonard John ‘Skeeter’ Dames, Osbourne ‘Ank’ Rahming, Carl Rodgers Minns, Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt, Dyudley ‘Dougie’ Smith, Winnfred Bethell-Russell, Keith Holland Parker, Celestine Wilson-Albury, Percival ‘Andy’ Knowles and Frederick Charles Higgs.

In 2001, the last induction was held for John Antonas, Derek ‘Bookie’ Nesbitt, Margaret Albury, Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming, Godfrey Kelly, Austin ‘King Snake’ Knowles, Martin Lundy, Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee, Arthur Eldon, Anita DeGregory-Doherty, Glenroy ‘Flo’ Saunders, Wilfred ‘Suggy’ Culmer, Prince ‘Heads’ McIntosh, Sir Gerald Cash and Justice Maxwell Thompson.

This year’s class started off the National Sports Heritage Week by attending a church service at St Francis Xavier Cathedral on West Street.

Minister Johnson expressed his gratitude to the Rev Father Glen Nixon, who gave his blessings to the honourees and the activities that they will participate in.

This week, the honourees will be attending a number of schools, appear on the various talk shows on Thursday and pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Perry Christie 11:30am Friday before the induction ceremony takes place at 7pm.

Oria Knowles, a senior sports officer at the ministry, said that the inductees will be presented with their relevant citations and awards before an audience that is expected to comprise of their family members and friends as well as dignitaries from the various sporting bodies in the country.

Future Hall of Fame inductee, “Golden Girl” Pauline Davis-Thompson, who currently serves as a consultant at the ministry of sports, endorsed the list of honourees.

“This is a step in the right direction as we continue to recognise those persons who have done great things for our country and we encourage the younger ones to continue to do great things for our country,” said Davis-Thompson, who continues to hold an international presence as a member of the IAAF Council.

And Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller, who also serves as a consultant at the ministry, was on hand to throw his full support behind the National Sports Heritage Week and Hall of Fame induction.

Although he admitted that the one week is definitely not sufficient to showcase the Hall of Famers, Johnson said through their slogan for this year’s event - ‘Bridging the past, present and future of sports in the country,’ his ministry hopes to provide a memorable experience for those being honoured.

“The National Sports Heritage Week represents another opportunity for the government to formally recognise outstanding Bahamian athletes, whose achievements may have gone unnoticed, show appreciation to athletes who continue to shine and also encourage younger athletes aspiring to excellence in sports,” he said.

Timothy Munnings, the director of sports, said with the rapid success of the Bahamian athletes, it’s going to be rather difficult to just honour 14-15 persons during each class of induction. He said they will have to revisit the induction and see how they can ensure that they recognise all those athletes who have made their contributions either as an athlete or administrator.

To culminate the week, Renee ‘Sunshine’ Sweeting said the ministry will organise a ‘Legends softball game’ that will be played 1-3pm Saturday at the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park, Southern Recreation Grounds.

A souvenir booklet is being prepared to help commemorate the occasion.