The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE local softball community continues to mourn the loss of one of the game’s icons, not just locally in his native Eleuthera but throughout the entire Bahamas.

David “Billy” Micklewhite, 66, passed away this week and softball executives continue to express their condolences.

“The Bahamas Softball Federation is indeed saddened to learn of the death of one of the most talented and decorated local and national softball players, David “Billy” Micklewhite. A BSF Hall of Famer, Billy has proven to be a true leader of the sport on and off the field,” said Bahamas Softball Federation president Burket Dorsett.

“His success and dedication to the development of softball not only on the island of Eleuthera but throughout the Bahamas speaks volumes to his commitment.”

Dorsett also acknowledged the moments when Micklewhite rose to national prominence as a member of the nationally renowned Beck’s Hustles organisation.

“Bay Front Park and the name Billy Micklewhite go hand in hand. When one speaks of Eleuthera softball, he was one of the most feared batters on that famous Beck’s Hustlers team which won many championships. One would remember those marquee matchups against Batelco, Ministry of Works and Spotless and the Rock Sound Heroes.

“He was the Hustlers’ pride and joy. ‘Billy’ was one of those players who gave back to the community,” he said. “He served as an executive of the Eleuthera Softball Association. He represented his country and association with impeccable distinction, pride and joy. On behalf of the BSF, I would like to express profound sympathy to his wife, children and other members of his family and the Eleuthera softball community. May his soul rest in peace.”

Romell Knowles, Bahamas Olympic Committee secretary general and former BSF president, said Micklewhite’s contributions extended beyond the field of play when his career concluded.

“David “Billy” Micklewhite was one of the softest-spoken gentlemen I knew, he was a prolific softball player and exhibited his love for softball well after his playing years. Billy served as my commissioner when I served as president of the Eleuthera Softball Association in the early 1990s. ‘Dada’, as he was affectionately called, was reliable and efficient during my tenure, we shared a passion for cars, especially old cars,” he said. “He was a community leader par excellence and an entrepreneur, always smiling. He loved his family and the game of softball with all his being - he will be sadly missed. I offer my condolences to his family and the community of Governor’s Harbour, you have lost your hero, your giant and ‘Dada’.”

In 2009, Micklewhite was honoured by the Eleuthera Softball Association during a three-day celebration of his storied career as a fund-raising effort to assist in the purchase of his prosthetic leg.

The event included a slide show presentation on the Beck’s Hustler’s Softball history, a T-shirt day at Bay Front Park in honour of Micklewhite, and capped off by a Fun Day/All-Star night between former members of the Governor’s Harbour Hustlers and the Rock Sound Heroes.

During the event, fellow Hustler Kingsley Bethel outlined Micklewhite’s impact in an interview with the Eleuthera News.

“Over the years a lot of us just lost sight of doing things. So Paul Simmons who is also a member of the organisation saw the need to honour him. Those were the good days watching “Billy” play softball at the height of his career. Some of my fondest memories of “Billy” was seeing him hit shots outside of Bay Front Park, actually to see him hit home runs out of almost any park he went to,” he said.

“In 1977, when the team travelled to Canada to play at the Belvedere Fast Pitch Tourney in Owen Sound, Ontario, he won the home run award. At that same tournament, he led the Hustlers to a sixth place finish out of 16 teams. It is very important that the youth in Eleuthera know about our great softball tradition so that they might be encouraged to carry on our great softball legacy,” he said.