The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The late Eric “King Eric” Gibson will always be remembered in our nation as long as there is a Bahamas and as long as The Master, Jesus Christ, continues to tarry. King Eric was a living national treasure and an entertainer; cultural and business entrepreneur whose equal will never, I submit, be seen anytime soon again in this lifetime.

Back in the 1970s when few black Bahamians were owners and operators of night clubs and other venues for quality entertainment, Eric Gibson stood out as proprietor and leader of “King Eric and his Knights”. They performed at West Bay Street just west of what is now known as Arawak Cay but was then called Kelly’s Island.

That night club was popular with locals and tourists. Other members of King Eric’s troupe included Jim Duncombe; Frankie Adams and Stuart. A very boyish Shayne Gibson also performed with them. I was privileged to visit that stellar establishment on several occasions, especially whenever I had foreign legal clients in town.

King Eric, as he was universally known, was a man with a big heart. He was the sort of individual who would literally give a person the very shirt off his back and expected nothing in return. I last visited with the King about two months ago after he had returned home from one of his regular dialysis treatments at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

He was his usual jolly self and treated me to a simple meal of boiled cassava; pumpkin and cabbage which was prepared and served by his lovely wife and companion. As I was leaving he pulled out his checkbook and made a generous donation to Unity House, with no request or prompting by me.

As a husband and father, King Eric was exemplary. I know two of his sons, the Honourable Shayne Gibson and Eric Gibson Jr, very well and they are my friends for life. The Bahamas has lost one of its greatest sons and he will be remembered as a businessman; an entertainer par excellence; a dedicated sportsman, especially in golfing and regatta sailings; family man and, more importantly, a son of Acklins and Crooked Island.

As he enters his final joy with the Lord, I pray the blessings of Jehovah Jari on his family. May his soul rest in peace. The King is dead, but long live the King.

To God then, in all things, even death, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE Jr

Nassau,

January 8, 2014.