THE names of the first R. E. Cooper Sr. National Meritorious Award winners - people who have quietly enriched and helped the community in The Bahamas - have been announced.
Alphonso “Boogaloo” Elliott, Steve Mckinney, Clinton McCartney Sr., the Munnings brothers, Raphael and Fred Jr. and James Schaeffer III are among the 22 to be recognised at a gala event at the Atlantis Ballroom on October 29 on Paradise Island. In addition there will be four posthumous awards to the family of Rev. Dr. H. W. Brown, A Bismark Coakley, William “Billy” Lowe and ‘King’ Eric Gibson.
The Mission Baptist Church, in conjunction with Sir Durward Knowles, will host the 2016 R. E. Cooper Sr. National Meritorious Awards “to recognise some outstanding people who have given so much to service and education of our people, but have rarely been recognised”, the awards organisers said in a statement. The Awards Committee has chosen 22 outstanding people from the nominations and the first group of winners announced “show the depth and level of those people who have quietly enriched our community and our country”.
R. E. Cooper Sr. was an educator who believed that education was the way for Bahamians to develop. He was directly responsible for thousands of Bahamians to get an education, whether abroad or here at home. He delivered the keynote address at the first Ecumenical Service to usher in Independence in 1973. Dr. Cooper Sr. was president of the Christian Council at the time and helped the Bahamas to many of the changes that took place through his church and speeches.
The Meritorious Award was founded many years ago to recognise people who have contributed to Bahamian development through service and education. This year’s event will feature two keynote speakers from the Civil Rights Movement - Fr. George Clements and Dr. Xernona Clayton, who will also participate in activities leading up to the gala on October 29.
Alphonso Elliott, also known as “Boogaloo”, is the owner of Bahamas Welding & Fire and a number of other businesses. However, Mr Elliott has done much for the community through private donations and assistance programme. Recently married to the former Lorraine Simms, Mr Elliott has retired from the business but still assists where he can.
Clinton McCartney Sr. is the owner and pharmacist at McCartney’s Pharmacy for more than 40 years. He has been involved in the Kiwanis Club for the same length of time and made significant contributions to the area in Centreville. His charitable contributions and assistance programme through McCartney’s Pharmacy has helped thousands of people over the years.
Steve Mckinney, the owner of Peace Radio and the Mckinney Broadcasting Network, has been in journalism for more than 40 years. Since starting at The Tribune in the late 1970s, he has been at the forefront of fighting for every cause, championing for people getting an education.
James Schaeffer III, an American, has also stressed education for young people and has assisted in helping them. He is CFO of Old Fort Financial, formerly Accuvest Ltd, a Nassau-based broker dealer. He had served earlier as President of Accuvest Global Advisors, a US registered investment advisor and Old Fort Financial’s investment manager. Prior to joining Accuvest he was Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of Labour, Office of Public Affairs and served during the George W. Bush administration as a Portfolio Press Officer at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
The Munnings Brothers, Fred Jr. and Raphael, are well known as world-class entertainers in the Bahamas but many will be unaware of the invaluable contributions they make in helping to educate people on the rich culture of the Bahamas.
Several more honourees will be announced later in the week. For more information visit www.recooperaward.org.
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