The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE was one last victory lap that junkanoo icon Winston ‘Gus’ Cooper, the eminent long-time leader, directed for his Valley Boys.

In what was a fitting tribute, Cooper’s body was carried to Lake View Cemetery in a decorated horse and carriage as a massive junkanoo rush-out, featuring all of the major groups, led by the Valley Boys, bid their 72-year-old mentor farewell.

Known also for his exploits in track and field as a former 400 metre runner and as the first director of sports at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Cooper was laid to rest on Saturday following his funeral service at The Parish Church of the Most Holy Trinity on Trinity Way, Stapledon Gardens. The Celebrant was Rev Mark Lindsay-Fox, rector of the Most Holy Trinity.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, a long-time friend of Cooper, led the tributes that was paid to Cooper during the pre-service.

“I take this final opportunity to lift up the name of Winston Roosevelt Cooper, Valley Boy leader, sports contributor, exemplary public servant and defining director of sports, we the people of the Bahamas, salute him,” Christie said.

Christie rushed on Bay Street on Boxing Day as a tribute to Cooper as the Valley Boys captured the first of two junkanoo parades. They duplicated the feat on New Year’s Day.

Cooper, 72, died on January 4 in the Princess Margaret Hospital, returning home from the United States where he spent several months getting treatment.

Leslie Miller, member of parliament for Golden Isles and a former quarter-miler who followed in the footsteps of Cooper on the track, said it’s hard not to forget the life of one of his mentors and friend.

“Gus is a fellow that I’ve known all of my life. In fact, his uncle and my uncle were brothers,” Miller said. “He ran track at Morgan State, but although he was seven years older than me, we ran the quarter-mile together. He was known as the king of the Valley Boys and he certainly has made a contribution to the life and times of our country. He is one of the great heroes of our country in culture, as well as track and field. He did an outstanding job.”

During his tenure at the Ministry of Sports, Cooper was best remembered for the role he played along with Martin Lundy, under the direction of the late Peter Bethell, in the formation of the Bahamas Games, which brought the islands together in a week-long mini-Olympic style sporting extravaganza that lasted for six different years.

For Andy Ford, who spent a lot of time with Cooper both in the Valley Boys and at the Ministry of Education where they were employed, looked at the deceased as a “father-figure.”

“He was always there with a listening ear and whenever you had a problem, he would try to assist as best as he could,” Ford said. “He was one of those who were responsible for me going off to college, making sure that when the coaches came here, everything was in order for me to be seen.”

On Saturday night, thousands turned out in Rawson Square where a memorial service was held, followed by another huge junkanoo rush-out. But there was no better tribute paid to Cooper than the rush-out that took his remains to his final resting place in Lake View Cemetery. May his soul rest in peace.