The Tribune

MOUNT Tabor Full Gospel Church is honouring 40 fathers, in a celebration it has dubbed the ‘Fabulous Forty,’ at the Sheraton Hotel, Cable Beach tonight. The Tribune continues to run profiles of the fathers selected by the church.

WINSTON “Gus” Cooper was born in Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, November 17, 1941, the son of Hubert Cooper and Llonella Cooper.

Gus was educated at Southern Prep, Southern Junior, Eastern Senior, St John’s College and Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland.

After joining the public service, Gus later continued his education and received an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration and Policy Management.

An avid sportsman, Gus participated in sports while in high school and college. He was active in track and field competing in the 400 metres, triple jump, baseball and softball. His love for sports was exemplified later on when he became one of the first Bahamians to own and operate a sporting goods store called “Champion Sports Land”. Gus coached many National Bahamian Track and Field teams overseas; the 1968 Olympics, Mexico City, Mexico; in 1970 the Bahamas Pan American Team Cali, Colombia; in 1971 the Commonwealth Games Team Edinburgh, Scotland; 1972 Olympic Team Munich, Germany.

In 1972, he was elected President of the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association (BAAA) where he served until 1976. In 1996, he was selected to the BAAA’s Hall of Fame as a Sports Administrator. Gus began his professional career as Physical Education Teacher at Harrold Road Secondary School (A. F. Adderley) in 1967; in 1969 he was appointed Head of the Physical Education Department; Highbury High School (R. M. Bailey): in 1972, he joined the Bahamas Teachers College; he was appointed Head of the Physical Education Department at the College of The Bahamas; in 1977, he was promoted to Director of Sports at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. During his tenure at the Ministry of Sports, he served as the Administrative Chairman of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Bahamas Games.

In 1958, he and many of his friends from the Centreville area organised themselves into a group called the Valley Boys. Gus actually spearheaded the group’s formation and emerged as the leader.

Called the “Father of Modern Day Junkanoo”, Gus became renowned for his creative costume designs, discipline, a desire to achieve excellence and a unique ability for organising parades. The Valley Boys overall group performance record is indeed a testimony to the organisation’s eminence.

Gus attributed his achievements to the love and guidance of his mother, the support of his wife and family and the guidance and tutoring of his priest/teacher, the Rt Rev’d Michael Eldon (deceased).

Gus married Cassandra Weech. Their five sons are Anthony, Francisco, Augustus, Elton and Ashley.