Stately Burial For Thomas A. Robinson

Thu, Dec 6th 2012, 03:15 PM

Quite a number of sporting enthusiasts, including past and present athletes, coaches and administrators, showed up yesterday to pay their respects to legendary Bahamian Thomas A. Robinson. Robinson, the first Bahamian sportsman to ever receive a state recognized funeral, was laid to rest yesterday afternoon at Eastern Cemetery following a three-hour service at Christ Church Cathedral. He died last week Sunday following a lengthy battle with stomach cancer, at the age of 74. Sports icon Robinson was truly a Bahamian icon given his tremendous athletic accomplishments, but the one word that kept being repeated yesterday was "humble", referring to the mettle of the man that was Thomas Augustus Robinson. He quietly went about his business, but was so effective in paving the way for so many athletes who came after him.

In his state tribute, Prime Minister Perry Christie said that Robinson was the elder statesman of Bahamian athletics who was a sporting hero of truly legendary status. One of those athletes who came after him, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) President Mike Sands, said that Robinson was his idol. He said that he wanted to emulate the great Bahamian sprinter on and off the track. "I remember when I first represented this country as a part of my first international trip. It was at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. That was my first trip and Tommy's last, and I wanted so badly to have the opportunity just to run with him. We were on the 4x100 meters team together, but the chance to run with him never materialized because I got injured and was unable to run," said Sands.

"Tommy was my hero though. I call him the great one because he was everything that I wanted to be - a great athlete, a wonderful father and an outstanding person. I certainly emulate him." The BAAA president said that it would certainly be a great honor to Robinson, for The Bahamas to perform at its best ability at next year's CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, set for the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in The Bahamas. "Tommy loved the young athletes and always followed their progress, so what better way to honor him than for us to go out there and perform extremely well at CARIFTA. It would certainly be great to win it," said Sands.

"Tommy would be very proud of us. As a tribute to him, we are going to do everything in our power to ensure that the first national event of its kind in the stadium, which is CARIFTA, is well represented by The Bahamas. We will make an extra effort in memory of Tommy." CARIFTA is set for the Easter weekend, March 28-April 1, 2013, in the house that Tommy built, the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. As for the stadium itself, former minister of sports Desmond Bannister said that there is no one more fitting to have his or her name on the national edifice. "I think that first of all, his athletic exploits would have solidified his iconic status, but also it paved the way for so many athletes after him.

Also Tommy was that guy who was there for athletes when his career was finished," said Bannister. "He was always there to counsel, support and to mentor them - to show them to use track to get an education and come back and contribute to The Bahamas. Tommy was very humble when he spoke. As you would have heard today, he always mentioned the four D's (Desire, Determination, Dedication and Discipline) to get young people to focus on their goals and go after them. It's ironic because him and Tom Grant died so close to each other and they both ran on that historic relay that got this country's first international relay medal, and they have totally different personalities.

Tommy was humble and quiet, and Tom was outgoing, but both became outstanding examples for our young people. Tommy Robinson was a great Bahamian and he will certainly be missed by everyone who came to know him." Robinson was one of those athletic heroes who seemed to touch Bahamians from every walk of life, especially in sports. It seemed like everyone had a pleasant story to tell. Former Bahamian professional baseball player Fred 'Papa' Smith said that he got to know Robinson during the 60s and remained close to him ever since. "He was such a humble person... always had time to talk and smile. He was a people's person," said Smith. "I first saw him run on the fort (Fort Charlotte) in a race between him and George Collie. The jury is still out on who won, but Tommy ran in his warm-up suit, so i was like 'wow'.

I just kept following him because he was the type of person who demanded respect by his ability. He was truly a fantastic human being," he added. Well-known Bahamian basketball legend Peter 'Macaroni' Gilcud said that Robinson played an integral role in his decision to attend the University of Minnesota. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Gilcud's signing with that prestigious National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institution. "From my days of playing basketball in the 60s, it was Vince Ferguson who was taking me around to meet great Bahamian athletes, and he took me to Tommy. I remember Tommy telling me about the importance of recognizing conferences," said Gilcud.

"Of course he went to Michigan and Michigan is in the Big Ten Conference. He told me that once you are in that conference and you excel, through the alumni and the people you meet, your life and friendships are very secure. Minnesota is in the Big Ten Conference as well, and I wanted to beat Michigan, so I signed on with Minnesota. "Also, I remember playing against the Miami Floridians in the ABA (American Basketball Association) in 1970, and I had a great game against one of the great centers. I was able to block his shot, and I remember Tommy telling me to not let it get to my head and keep focused on getting better. Of course, he would help so many people to get scholarships, and he encouraged me to do the same. I take pride in seeing people excel who I worked with and who I assisted.

All of that came from Tommy. His character as an individual far transcended the lofty goals he set for himself and the achievements he had in track and field. As a person he was a real man who cared about his fellow Bahamians. The country has certainly lost an icon and as far as I am concerned, he will always be remembered by me and my family. We love him and we will definitely miss him." Noted coach Keith Parker, who met Robinson during the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, shared those sentiments with Gilcud. "He was just a great man, and I'm sorry to see him go," said Parker. "He was the first Bahamian I ever met.

I made it a point to meet him after I watched him compete because I had got a telegram about going to London for an interview for a job in The Bahamas. Well, I got the job and we have been friends ever since. I respected his greatness - his love of the sport and everything else. He always had encouraging words for all of the athletes. He was a great friend to me. He was a mentor to me even though he was younger than me. Tommy was head and shoulders above the rest, but as a person he still had time to always offer kind words of encouragement to the athletes."

With Robinson becoming the first Bahamian sportsman to be laid to rest after a state recognized funeral, Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) President Wellington Miller said that it's certainly comforting to know that sports heroes are now being recognized for their athletic accomplishments. "That's certainly a good sign," said Miller. "Tommy has set the standard. He has shown that if you excel athletically, and be a good citizen and you are well-respected, your rewards will come. I was at a PASO (Pan American Sports Organization) meeting last week, and the one thing that caught my attention was that all of the regional sports leaders were coming up to me and offering their condolences for Tommy because of the man that he was. They knew and respected him.

I felt proud to be a Bahamian because of that. Tommy was the type of man and athlete who demanded respect. It is a testament to the type of man that he was. He was a humble man, and here today we are honoring him with a state recognized funeral. Also, he had the national stadium named after him. He was a role model, and all young athletes should emulate him," he added. Thomas Augustus Robinson was the first Bahamian to win an international medal (bronze in the 100 yards at the 1957 West Indian Federation Games in Kingston, Jamaica), the first Bahamian to win an international gold medal (220 yards gold at 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games), the first Bahamian to compete in track and field at the Olympic Games (1956 in Melbourne, Australia), the first Bahamian to compete in four successive Olympic Games, 1956-68, the first Bahamian to make an Olympic final on the track (1964 in Tokyo, Japan), the first Bahamian to receive an athletic scholarship to a major NCAA institution (1957 at the University of Michigan where he won nine Big Ten titles) and the first Bahamian to set a world record (300 meters indoors in 1964 in Saskatoon, Canada) just to name a few.

It was only fitting that Robinson received his flowers while he was still alive. He was recognized on a number of occasions, particularly by the Friends of Tommy A. Robinson Committee in 2009, and had two national stadiums named in his honor - the old Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium and the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. In athletics, he was best known for his double medal performance as a one-man team at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales - bronze in the 100 yards and gold in the 220 yards. Post-retirement, even up to the time of his death, Robinson was still actively involved in the sporting landscape of this country. He most recently served as chairman of the National Stadium Committee and was present as the guest of honor at its official opening in February of this year.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads