Nassau, Bahamas - The nation’s newest NBA star Buddy
Hield, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Cynthia Mother Moxey Pratt, Women’s NBA
standout Jonquel Jones, and veterans like Leonard Boston Blackie Miller, Peter
Gilcud, Swim Coach Andy Knowles and Sports Administrators like Sir Arlington
Butler as well as the late Vince Ferguson are joined by the country’s only test
Cricketer Ivan Johnson in the 38 Sports Legends List as part of the country’s
43rd Independence Anniversary celebrations.
The Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe, MP and
Minister of Tourism serving in the capacity of Chairman of the 43rd
Independence Celebrations Secretariat, is pleased to announce on behalf of the
Government and People of The Bahamas, 38 honourees as National Sports Legends.
Minister Wilchcombe said: “The Christie
Government in demonstrative admission of its mantra to put Bahamians first and
to believe in Bahamians has set about the task upon coming to office in May 2012
of uplifting, recognizing and saluting the stellar conduct, character and
performances of Bahamians in every sphere of national life.
“The Government has been encouraged to
continue the annual Independence promotion and induction of the College of Cultural
Heroes; and, indeed, the Sports Heroes stand on their own formidable platform.
“Just as the Cultural Heroes have
engaged the nation in song, dance, the written word and multimedia, hospitality
and respective industries, the Sports Heroes have given the nation and the
Bahamian people a sense of pride and place in the world, and made us all feel
good about ourselves and our ability to perform at world class levels at home
and abroad.
“The 38 Sports Legend Honourees hail
from diverse backgrounds and sports and athletic portfolios. What they all have
in common is the thread of appreciation, support and marvel the Bahamian people
have professed over the fabulous cadre of talent.
“Each Sports Honouree still alive with
us today and those being honoured posthumously have shown by example worthy of
emulation that our younger citizens indeed do have role models to pattern
themselves after, and the stories each of the 38 Honourees present make us all
proud and humbled.
“The Committee cannot single out any one
Honouree as they all quite rightly belong to the same cavalcade. The Committee
encourages the wider community to continue to identify and cause to be
remembered the outstanding performances of Sports Heroes whose careers and
acumen elevate them to the prestigious honour during the annual Independence
celebrations,” Minister Wilchcombe said.
The 38 Sports Honourees will be
installed and presented with their Insignia and designations at a Ceremony to
Honour Sports Legends on
Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas A.
Robinson National Stadium.
The Thirty Eight Honourees for the nation’s
43rd Anniversary of Independence are:
1.
Eddie Ford
2.
Frank 'Pancho'
Rahming
3.
Ed Smith - Football
4.
Donnie Martinborough
- Sailing
5.
Edward Leon 'Apache'
Knowles - Baseball
6.
Wil Culmer - Baseball
7.
Keith Parker
8.
Bradley Cooper
9.
Sterling Quant -
Basketball
10.Ray
Minus Jr. - Boxing
11.Sir
Arlington Butler
12.Tom
'The Bird' Grant
13.Leonard
'Boston Blackie' Miller
14.Cecil
Rose - Basketball
15.Cynthia
'Mother' Pratt - Volleyball
16.Ivan
Johnson - Cricket
17.Della
Thomas - Bodybuilding
18.Andy
Knowles - Swimming Coach
19.Peter
Gilcud
20.Dr.
Timothy Barrett - Triple Jump
21.Buddy
Hield - Basketball
22.George
'Tony' Curry - Baseball
23.Yolett
McPhee McCuin – NCAA Women’s Basketball Coach
24.Vince
Ferguson
25.Dame
Albertha Isaacs
26.Byron
Ferguson - Volleyball
27.Richard
'The Lionheart' Johnson
28.Gomeo
Brennan - Boxing
29.Edmundo
Moxey - Baseball
30.Candice
DeGregory Culmer - Softball
31.Fred
'Papa' Smith
32.Linda
Ford- Softball
33.Glen
'The Master' Griffin - Softball
34.Charles
Thompson - Basketball
35.Randy
Rolle Sr.
36.Laverne
Eve - Javelin Throw
37.Edney
Bethel-Softball
38.Jonquel
Jones – Basketball
