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Statue for Herb
Statue for Herb
Jamaican athletic great laid to restBY DANIA BOGLE Observer staff reporter bogled@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, December 09, 2007
A statue is to be erected in honour of arguably Jamaica's greatest athlete, Herbert Henry McKenley OM, who was laid to rest in front of a modest gathering of family, friends, officials and members of the track & field fraternity at twilight at National Heroes Park yesterday.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in his tribute to the 1952 Helsinki Olympic 4x400m gold medallist during the state funeral service at the National Arena, said the statue would be erected following consultation with the family of the legendary athlete and long-time Calabar coach, who died on Monday, November 26, at the age of 85.
Members of legendary Olympian Herb McKenley's family (from left), wife Beverley, daughter Laura, sons Michael and Herb Jnr, and daughters Kirsten and Yanique, at yesterday's funeral service at the National Arena. McKenley died on November 26 at the age of 85.
McKenley's wife Beverley, daughters Laura, Kirsten, Yanique, Alicia, and sons Michael and Herb Jnr, as well as brother Dudley and other relatives, joined a group which included current and former athletes, Olympians and other dignitaries.
Also among the gathering were president of the Bahamas Athletic Association, Mike Sands; former Bahamas Athletic Association council member, Alpheus Findlayson; Trinidad & Tobago Olympic gold medallist, Hasely Crawford; former Jamaica Prime Ministers PJ Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller; Jamaica Olympic Association president, Mike Fennell, and Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association president, Howard Aris.
Olympians Juliet Cuthbert, Grace Jackson, Usain Bolt and Sherone Simpson - the latter two laying wreaths at McKenley's graveside - Dr Cynthia Thompson and Vilma Charlton were also present, as well as one of McKenley's best-known athletes during his tenure as coach at Calabar High, Daniel England.
England, who now lives in Arizona, told the Sunday Observer he arrrived in the island on Friday specifically for yesterday's service.
Jamaica Constabulary Force pallbearers prepare to fold the Jamaica flag after laying the casket bearing the Hon Herb McKenley at the interment at National Heroes Park yesterday. (Photos: Lionel Rookwood)
Les Laing, who along with McKenley, Arthur Wint, and George Rhoden, was part of that gold medal-winning team at Helsinki 55 years ago, told the Sunday Observer the realisation hit him just as he looked at McKenley's casket that he and Rhoden are the only two surviving members of the historic quartet.
"As I stand and watch the proceeding (I realise) that there's only two of us left and since we have no control over that, one can only hope that we will receive God's blessing to live as long as He chooses," Laing said.
Rhoden was not present at the funeral due to illness.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding apart, tributes were also read by McKenley's oldest child Laura, president of the Calabar Old Boys' Association Bernie Panton, Aris, Fennell, and 1976 Olympic 200m gold medallist Donald Quarrie, while former Prime Minister PJ Patterson read the eulogy.
"One of those who won the world but never lost his soul," is how Laura remembered her father, while Aris thanked McKenley's widow Beverley on behalf of the Jamaica athletic fraternity for the years and time she allowed McKenley to serve the country's track and field during the more than 30 years of their marriage.
"Everyone on the team was important to him," Quarrie said. "What I will remember most was his deep compassion for his family and athletics."
McKenley, who was the first Jamaican to gain an athletics scholarship to a college in the United States - the University of Illinois - was remembered as a man who loved his family and cared not only for those in his own track and field circles, but also helped athletes from other schools as well.
McKenley, who attended Calabar and coached at there for more than 30 years for two periods beginning in 1955 and 1972, was given a warm farewell by members of the school fraternity, who sang the school song, "Hear Sir", at the close of the interment service.
"Hear sir, hear sir... to not only the call of Calabar but the call of all," was one of the tributes.
McKenley was inducted into the first Penn Relays Hall of Fame in April 1994, 51 years after becoming the first Jamaican to run there in 1943.
Director of the Penn Relays Carnival, Dave Johnson, who was also in attendance, said "... His contribution went way beyond his accomplishments as an athlete", recalling that McKenley was instrumental in helping to send the first Jamaican High school - Kingston College - to the Penn Relays in 1963.
Jamaican athletic great laid to restBY DANIA BOGLE Observer staff reporter bogled@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, December 09, 2007
A statue is to be erected in honour of arguably Jamaica's greatest athlete, Herbert Henry McKenley OM, who was laid to rest in front of a modest gathering of family, friends, officials and members of the track & field fraternity at twilight at National Heroes Park yesterday.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in his tribute to the 1952 Helsinki Olympic 4x400m gold medallist during the state funeral service at the National Arena, said the statue would be erected following consultation with the family of the legendary athlete and long-time Calabar coach, who died on Monday, November 26, at the age of 85.
Members of legendary Olympian Herb McKenley's family (from left), wife Beverley, daughter Laura, sons Michael and Herb Jnr, and daughters Kirsten and Yanique, at yesterday's funeral service at the National Arena. McKenley died on November 26 at the age of 85. McKenley's wife Beverley, daughters Laura, Kirsten, Yanique, Alicia, and sons Michael and Herb Jnr, as well as brother Dudley and other relatives, joined a group which included current and former athletes, Olympians and other dignitaries.
Also among the gathering were president of the Bahamas Athletic Association, Mike Sands; former Bahamas Athletic Association council member, Alpheus Findlayson; Trinidad & Tobago Olympic gold medallist, Hasely Crawford; former Jamaica Prime Ministers PJ Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller; Jamaica Olympic Association president, Mike Fennell, and Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association president, Howard Aris.
Olympians Juliet Cuthbert, Grace Jackson, Usain Bolt and Sherone Simpson - the latter two laying wreaths at McKenley's graveside - Dr Cynthia Thompson and Vilma Charlton were also present, as well as one of McKenley's best-known athletes during his tenure as coach at Calabar High, Daniel England.
England, who now lives in Arizona, told the Sunday Observer he arrrived in the island on Friday specifically for yesterday's service.
Jamaica Constabulary Force pallbearers prepare to fold the Jamaica flag after laying the casket bearing the Hon Herb McKenley at the interment at National Heroes Park yesterday. (Photos: Lionel Rookwood) Les Laing, who along with McKenley, Arthur Wint, and George Rhoden, was part of that gold medal-winning team at Helsinki 55 years ago, told the Sunday Observer the realisation hit him just as he looked at McKenley's casket that he and Rhoden are the only two surviving members of the historic quartet.
"As I stand and watch the proceeding (I realise) that there's only two of us left and since we have no control over that, one can only hope that we will receive God's blessing to live as long as He chooses," Laing said.
Rhoden was not present at the funeral due to illness.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding apart, tributes were also read by McKenley's oldest child Laura, president of the Calabar Old Boys' Association Bernie Panton, Aris, Fennell, and 1976 Olympic 200m gold medallist Donald Quarrie, while former Prime Minister PJ Patterson read the eulogy.
"One of those who won the world but never lost his soul," is how Laura remembered her father, while Aris thanked McKenley's widow Beverley on behalf of the Jamaica athletic fraternity for the years and time she allowed McKenley to serve the country's track and field during the more than 30 years of their marriage.
"Everyone on the team was important to him," Quarrie said. "What I will remember most was his deep compassion for his family and athletics."
McKenley, who was the first Jamaican to gain an athletics scholarship to a college in the United States - the University of Illinois - was remembered as a man who loved his family and cared not only for those in his own track and field circles, but also helped athletes from other schools as well.
McKenley, who attended Calabar and coached at there for more than 30 years for two periods beginning in 1955 and 1972, was given a warm farewell by members of the school fraternity, who sang the school song, "Hear Sir", at the close of the interment service.
"Hear sir, hear sir... to not only the call of Calabar but the call of all," was one of the tributes.
McKenley was inducted into the first Penn Relays Hall of Fame in April 1994, 51 years after becoming the first Jamaican to run there in 1943.
Director of the Penn Relays Carnival, Dave Johnson, who was also in attendance, said "... His contribution went way beyond his accomplishments as an athlete", recalling that McKenley was instrumental in helping to send the first Jamaican High school - Kingston College - to the Penn Relays in 1963.
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