Hundreds say farewell to Herb McKenley

THE legendary Herb McKenley, the man hailed by many as Jamaica's most famous track star, was laid to rest at National Heroes Park on Saturday after an official funeral at the National Arena.

McKenley's widow Beverly, Governor-General Sir Kenneth Hall, prime Minister Bruce Golding, former prime ministers Edward Seaga, P.J. Patterson, Leader of the Opposition, Portia Simpson Miller and dozens of Olympians, including Les Laing, who ran on the famous gold medal winning relay team of 1952 in Helsinki; Donald Quarrie, the 1976 Olympic 200m champion; and Deon Hemmings, Jamaica's first female Olympic gold medallist, headed the hundreds of mourners at the National Arena.

True ambassador for Jamaica

In delivering the remembrance, former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who, like McKenley, is a Calabar old boy, described the late Olympian as a "true ambassador for Jamaica," and "an unmatched legend of his time".

"This great son of our soil moved to an even higher plain by the tremendous service he gave to his society long after the roar of the stadium crowds had ended and the sheen on the medals of honour had disappeared," Mr. Patterson added.

He said that as McKenley embarked on sharing his talents with succeeding generations, he began with his old school, "but it was never just Calabar. He shared his knowledge and technical skills in rural and urban Jamaica alike." McKenley, who won three individual silver medals and that 4x400m gold at two Olympic Games, died at the University Hospital on Monday, November 26, at age 85.

Prime Minister Golding, in paying tribute to McKenley, announced that a statue of the great athlete would be erected at the entrance to the National Stadium in his honour.

MANY NATIONAL AWARDS

Born on July 10, 1922, in Pleasant Valley, Clarendon, McKenley was the first man to break the 46-second barrier for the 400m when he set a world record of 45.9 seconds. Among his many national awards was Jamaica's third highest honour, the Order of Merit, which he received in 2004.

Dennis Johnson who equalled the world record for the 100 yards three times in 1961 was one of the first athletes to be coached at Calabar by McKenley after the great man returned home in 1954.

Johnson, who was among the mourners on Saturday, first met McKenley as a 14-year-old schoolboy at Calabar.

"I was then in Class Three and we had a relationship that lasted forever," Johnson said on Saturday.

"At that time, to everybody who was interested in track and field, Herb was the icon along with Arthur Wint, Les Laing and George Rhoden who got the relay gold in Helsinki.

"Our personal relationship was a little different. He was like my father. He would take me to buy ice cream and milkshake at Jamaica Milk Products. I would go to picnics with his family and he trained me until I won the 100m and 200m in Class One at Boys Championships.

"He then got me a scholarship to go to Bakersfield College. He was every bit the person that people say he is. He is a wonderful, humble person. A nice human being," said the 68-year-old Johnson.