A fond farewell - Tributes pour out for legend

Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

THE JAMAICAN Government, in another tribute to track and field legend Herb McKenley, will erect a statue at the entrance to the National Stadium in his honour.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Bruce Golding who joined thousands of others in paying tribute to the great Jamaican athlete, coach, mentor and patriot at the official funeral held at the National Arena yesterday.

The 1952 Helsinki Olympics 4x400m gold medallist McKenley, who died on November 26, gave unselfishly to sports after retiring as an athlete.

He was coach of the Jamaica national team from 1954 to 1973 and also served as president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Asso-ciation (JAAA).

His alma mater, Calabar High, was also the beneficiary of his vast talent and knowledge as he was the school's track and field coach for many years.

Tributes poured in

Tributes yesterday came from Howard Aris, president of the JAAA, Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and Olympian Donald Quarrie.

The Calabar family, of which McKenley was a trailblazing student, athlete, coach and mentor, also offered up his memory as a template for greatness.

Bernie Panton, president of the Calabar Old Boys' Association, said McKenley showed Jamaica how to close the gap on the most powerful athletics' nation in the world.

"No other institution in Jamaica could have been as magnificently served by anyone as Calabar has been served by its most famous son," said Panton. "McKenley's greatness has never been in question and we speak not of the records or the medals, but his contribution to mankind," he said.

Aris, making his tribute on behalf of his organisation, said McKenley's commitment and desire to serve through athletics laid the foundation for other athletes to follow.

"We want to say thanks to this great Jamaican. Calabar belonged to Herb and Herb belonged to Jamaica and the world. He will remain a legend in our memory forever," Aris said.

Exceptional contributions

Quarrie, who won gold in the 200m at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, spoke highly of his mentor as having compassion not only for his family and his charges but also for his homeland.

"Everyone he met was important to him. He always spoke highly of his family and when he was on trips abroad he would tell stories of his family and his homeland. He carried his family and Jamaica in his heart always," Quarrie said.

Fennell described McKenley as a unique individual who dedicated his life to sports.

"His contributions at all levels were exceptional and he used his talents unselfishly to help others develop their own talents and shape their lives for themselves," said Fennell.

"Those of us who are left behind now have to ensure that the rich legacy that he has left and the values that he epitomised are not forgotten and are used for the benefit of generations to come."

Sporting fraternity

The 1976 Olympic 100m Olympic champion, Hasely Crawford of Trinidad and Tobago, and former International Association of Athletics Federation council member, Alpheus Finlayson, from the Bahamas were among the important names from the international sporting fraternity who attended yesterday's service.

Leslie Laing, one of Herb McKenley's teammates on the historic 4x400-metre team which won gold at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, and Laing's wife, Carmen Phipps, another Olympian, also attended the official funeral.

Other Olympians who turned out to pay their last respects to the 'gentle giant' were Juliet Cuthbert, Deon Hemmings, Grace Jackson, Bertland Cameron and current track sensations Usain Bolt, Aileen Bailey and Sherone Simpson.

Representatives from local sporting organisations, including the Jamaica Netball Association, Jamaica Cricket Association and the Jamaica Boxing Board, were also in attendance.