The Tribune

THE third edition of the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will feature 35 athletes, administrators, officials and personalities during a gala show at the Regency Theatre in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on July 6.

The GB Sports Hall of Fame committee, an entity of the City of Freeport local government council, made the announcement on Wednesday as it unveiled this year’s theme: Legends 2013 -‘Better…Stronger…Faster’.

Harold Williams, chairman of the committee, announced that the upcoming induction - as the country celebrates its 40th anniversary as a nation - is significant as it will serve “as a reminder to those who want to compete that they must be better, they must be stronger, and they must be faster in order to be honoured and recognised as a Hall-of-Famer.

“We want to share our patriotism during this anniversary year and we promise that the event will not be the usual sit down dinner but more of an energetic show featuring these past athletes who thrilled Grand Bahama during their more active or playing days.”

The committee unveiled its promotional television commercial and banner which features some past inductees, namely hall-of-famers, former all-around athlete Anita Doherty, softball star Candice DeGregory, basketball standouts Basil ‘Kid’ Sands, Derek ‘Bookie’ Nesbitt, and Charlie ‘Softly’ Robins, and bodybuilder, Sam ‘Zulu’ Williams.

Also on hand for the announcement were the administrator for the CFC, Alexander Williams, chief councilor, Kevin Ferguson, councilor, Derek Sands, and softball administrators and hall-of-famers, Churchill Tener-Knowles and Gregory Christie.

Inductees in the Class of 2013 come from a cross section of Grand Bahama and include not just athletes and coaches, but also administrators, officials and the media.

Elected from Basketball – James ‘Goon’ Culmer and Terry Wildgoose, from Bodybuilding, Baldwin Darling, Henry Charlton, Powerlifting – Bernard ‘Spinks’ Rolle, Baseball – Calvin Martin, Boxing – Arlington Thompson, Cycling – George Curtis and Reginald Sears, Golf – Carlton Harris and Ambrose Gouthro, Soccer – Brad Bethel and Arthur Parris, Softball – Leona Roach, Carolyn Ferguson, Viola Roker, and Lenny Newton, Swimming – Robbie Butler, Tennis – Olivia Mackey and the Late Steve Dillet, America Football – Sherick ‘Sharky’ Martin and Phil Grant, Track & Field – Dudley Parker and Audrick Lightbourne, Rugby – Joe Harris, Volleyball – Helena Cooper and Oriel Knowles, and Sports Media – Ricardo Lightbourne.

Several persons were elected posthumously: Bernard ‘Bunny’ Levarity, Basketball, Melanie Fester, Bodybuilding, Basil Hanna, Boxing, Nicole ‘Niki’ Johnson-Hepburn, Track & Field, Watewell Rigby, Sports Media, and Elson ‘Dusty’ Miller, Cricket.

Tickets for the event are currently available through the office of the City of Freeport Council and as there is limited seating, patron of the event are asked to get theirs early.