The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net From the ocean to the pulpit, Sir Durward 'Sea Wolf' Knowles has been awarded another title. This time, a Doctor of Humane Letters honourary degree. During a church service Sunday at the Mission Baptist Church on Hay Street, Rev Dr R E Cooper Jr, pastor and president of the Atlantic College, made the presentation. Presenting Knowles to the congregation, Dr Diane R Major said: "Because of his extensive and significant contributions to our nation, for his leadership and role setting of courage and commitment to life and to our Bahamas, for the love he has left us as a legacy, and for his friendship to Atlantic College, it is my privilege to present to you, one who is more than worthy of this highest degree in academic arenas, and to receive at your hands, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa." In receiving him, Dr Cooper Jr said Dr Knowles has an extraordinary life and he is a cherished personality as far as the landscape of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. "It is fitting that on this Sunday morning, we here at the Mission Baptist Church are pleased to have you all to ourselves," he stated. "Here in this audience, you have tender lives who will be entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that our rich history is told many, many years to come from this point. "We decided that they will just have an opportunity to feel your magnanimous touch - the essence of nationalism, patriotism, love for God and most of all, as a servant of humanity, love for country." Giving Sir Durward his honour cord and certificate, Rev Cooper Jr said he now has all the rights and privileges as he is now known as Dr Sir Durward Knowles. In his 64 years of giving back either as a sailing competitor, a harbour pilot, a patron or a philanthropist, Dr Knowles said this would certainly rank as the highest honour. The 94-year-old, who was accompanied by his wife Holly and two of his three children, Jill and Charlotte, said he's not a "great scholar, having only graduated from Queen's College, but he was lost for words when he ascended the podium. "I know what I wanted to do in life and I did it," said Knowles, who wasn't sure what Atlantic College was all about before he was approached by Dr Cooper and Dr Diane R Major, his presenter. "I accomplished everything that I set out to do. I was able to achieve the first Olympic gold medal for the Bahamas. But today, I am very proud of this great honour." Having received more than 100 certificates for his charity work from the rotary to his presidency of the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled to his directorship of the One Bahamas Foundation, Knowles said he will definitely cherish this one because of the significance in church. Adorned in his "great robe and great hat," Dr Knowles said he has been paraded in front of people who he doesn't even know. But he said it's a honour that he will cherish and share with his rivals and friends around the world, who have never gotten the opportunity to "receive something that he received." "I want to thank you, Mr President and your officers, for bestowing such an honour on me. I thank you very much and I wish you God's speed." Ty Olander, the organiser of the Bahamas Open Women's tennis tournament, was on hand to bring remarks. And soloist Oral Hudson gave an inspirational rendition of 'You Are My Hero.'