It has become commonplace for me. Within the last two weeks, I have used this space to pay tribute to three iconic sporting friends. First, there was Roy Bowe, then Tom 'The Bird' Grant, followed by Charlie Saunders. Today, I salute the life and times of Thomas Augustus Robinson. He passed away around 6:50 a.m. on Sunday morning at the age of 74. About five years ago, Robinson began his bout with cancer. His resilience enabled him to recuperate to the point whereby he made us all feel good again. His vibrancy returned and he was actively going about his normal routines as before. His family and friends were emboldened. This past summer though, the battle with cancer became more troublesome for him. He underwent treatment and dug his heels in against the scourge.
Then, in late October, on a day when one of my daughters was having a minor procedure done at Doctors Hospital, Robinson was in at the same time. They were in the operating room together. Robinson was in to have a feeding tube installed. His weight had fallen to around 120 pounds. You hoped, but the uphill struggle he faced was recognized. That was the reality of the situation. He fought on, but would never recover. Now, he is gone. We have his legacy though. That will always be with us. The country named two stadiums in his honor, the latest being the much talked about national facility that anchors the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre complex.
For me, the hallmark achievement of this great man was in 1958, when the 20-year-old Robinson was in Cardiff, Wales as the only member of the Bahamian delegation for the Commonwealth Games. There he was, one young man, lifting up an entire country by himself. What an incomparable job he did! He captivated spectators in the stadium in Cardiff and the rest of the world where the event was listened to via radio broadcast and viewed by television. The electronic media age was not upon us nearly as it is today, but the young lad from Hawkins Hill connected his country, The Bahamas, with the world. He carried our flag. He coordinated all of the schedules, for competition and other social occasions when representation had to be made for his country.
On the track, he exploded in the 220 yards dash for a gold medal and he captured the 100 yards silver medal. When one considers the circumstances faced by Robinson, alone, it is easy to regard his collective performances at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, as the single most inspirational and greatest accomplishment for a little country that is known today equally for his sports excellence as it is for sun, sand and sea. Robinson competed in four Olympics, making the final of the 100 meters in 1964. He won regional gold medals. He won three consecutive Commonwealth Games silver medals in the century (1958, 1962 and 1966). He became the first Bahamian official sports ambassador. He was the chairman of the National Stadium Committee. He personified humility.
He was a hero of heroes. Former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom remembers him quite well. "Tommy was a mentor and very close friend and I had the opportunity to work with him firstly as a student and then later on to compete with him when he coached the Pioneers Track Club and I the Baintown Flyers Track Club. One of my fondest memories in the height of our spirited battle as coaches was of us joining forces to win the CARIFTA Games (1984, hosted in The Bahamas). "We jointly made a decision that caused us to win the entire games by one medal. I remember him asking me if I was thinking what he was thinking. That was to run Pauline Davis on the anchor leg of the girls' 4X400m. We would not have won.
Pauline was my athlete with the Flyers and although she had never gone out for the 400, I agreed with him. That was our best chance. We won the race and the Games. "Then I became minister and I requested (in a discussion) with the prime minister (Rt. Hon Perry Christie), Hon. Cynthia Pratt (then deputy prime minister) and Hon. Leslie Miller (then minister of trade) and approached the Cabinet to have him (Robinson) given the role of sports ambassador and also to be appointed consultant to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. He led the team of consultants at the time that included you (this journalist) and Grafton Iffil Jr. Having that team was a great privilege of mine and they did a lot of work on the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre and the national stadium. Tommy chaired the National Stadium Committee.
"During all of his illness he maintained the spirit of commitment to sports and to the Bahamian people. Up to the time of his passing, his approach was to keep on fighting. He continued to promote sports and was always inquiring about what was going on in sports. Right up to the BAAA (Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations) elections, he was pondering what would have been best as opposed to individuals. "A giant of a man, now takes his final rest," said Wisdom. Miller informed that he received an early call from Prime Minister Christie about Robinson's death. He immediately went to the hospital. He was somber, but reflective. "By far, Tommy was the greatest single athlete we produced. We have to feel good that in our lifetime we were around to see him.
Tommy set the pace for all of us. The best time I ran in my life (46.8 seconds in the 400 meters at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City) was because of Tommy who helped me tremendously. As for him, he had more speed from the 60-meter mark to the finish of the 100 meters than anyone else I know. Only Bob Hayes was comparable at that stage of the race. "Through it all, Tommy was so humble. I never heard him say anything negative. He handled everything with grace and dignity. He was the ultimate diplomat. He took us under his wing. I remember when we came back from the Olympics in 1968, he told me, 'Eller'...he always called me that, never Leslie.
He said that he was going to take me under his wings. He would get me and several others up to run with him over on Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island in the mornings and again in the evenings at the track. No coach in my life could compare with him. He was just a special person. As an athlete, when I traveled throughout the United States and to regional events, once you were known to be from The Bahamas, the questions about Robinson would come. He was synonymous with The Bahamas. "I recall, as minister for trade and industry, I would travel through the Caribbean. One time I met Lester Bird, prime minister of Antigua. He told me of how he and Tommy were roommates at the University of Michigan.
There, they called Tommy the 'King of the East'. He won all of the 50, 60 yards sprints. One time he held the 300 yards world record for about 14 years. Despite his greatness, he was most unlike other stars. He kept himself grounded and carried his country on his shoulders with grace and pride. "I bragged about him always. This is the saddest time in the annals of sports in this country...but Tommy is out of his suffering and with his God and Savior. We can't ask for more at this time," said Miller. Tommy's heart just gave out. His breathing became labored from Thursday.
Early Sunday morning, the race of life ended. I found out officially about his death when I spoke to his lifelong friend George Capron shortly before 8 a.m. on Sunday. He informed me that Tommy had passed about an hour earlier. Two of my close friends, Grafton Ifill Jr. and Rudy Meadows called and I was able to confirm the sad news. In recent weeks, I had no communications directly with Robinson. However, I spoke to his daughter Tania, son Robbie and daughter Erica and got updates. To those three, and another son, Scott, plus brother Kingsley, sister Brenda and the rest of the close-knit family, I extend condolences. Biologically, he belonged to you, but a nation claimed ownership and revered the man called Thomas Augustus Robinson. May his soul forever rest in peace!
•To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com.
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