The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE boxing community, joined by a number of politicians, came out to show their support to the family of the late Everette Oswald "Elisha Obed' Ferguson as the former World Boxing Council's junior middleweight champion was remembered for his accomplishments during his funeral service at the Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries International on Saturday.

Lanisha Rolle, the first woman to serve as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, representing the Free National Movement's Government, made a comparison of 66-year-old Elisha Obed to Timothy in his book in the Bible where he said he "fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept his faith and laid up for him is a crown of righteousness, whom the Lord, the righteous judge will give unto him on that day.

"Family, be strong. Your father has fought a good fight, he's done his part. Now do yours."

Many expected to hear something more tangible about a fitting recognition posthumously for Elisha Obed, who won the title on November 13, 1975 in Paris, France, two years after the Bahamas gained Independence, but a number of persons who followed in their tributes either criticised governments past and present for failing to do so, or they took a line from Rolle and felt "what was done" was done.

To their credit, former Senator Franklyn Wilson said the Progressive Liberal Party, under Prime Minister Lynden Pindling, in 1976 made history when they invited Elisha Obed to the House of Assembly where he was honoured as a national hero. But after he lost the title on June 18, 1976, he was never the same.

After retiring in 1984, he worked with the Ministry of Works until 1993 when he was medically boarded by the FNM Government, headed by PM Hubert Ingraham. Elisha Obed's sister, Dr Ruth Hynes, who would take care of him for 12 years because of his illness, said her brother loved the Bahamas and he took care of his mother, brothers and sisters.

"My brother's resume didn't look so good. There wasn't a list of credentials or degrees," she stated. "He knew all about love and service as he became an icon to the world, representing the Bahamas. As I reflect, on the fights that I attended as he won, he putting me on his shoulder in the ring, it was a joy to serve me brother for 12 years. As I reflect, he deserved that and more."

In his tribute, veteran journalist Fred Sturrup, who also serves as the chairman of the Bahamas Boxing Commission, Elisha Obed was called one of the "greatest sons of Bahamian soil, truly a national hero." But Sturrup said it's a bitter-sweet minute as he reflect on what Elisha Obed achieved.

Sadly, Sturrup said the system in the Bahamas failed Elisha Obed and he never got his just reward as he and so many other sporting heroes have been neglected over the years after carrying the entire country on their shoulders on the international scene. He said at the time when he had an opportunity to make his contribution, the system did not allow Elisha Obed to help develop his craft by being put in a position where he could have helped to groom more Bahamian boxers to follow in his footsteps.

"Had the system provided him with the options to serve, he would not have had to fight for years when he should have hung up the gloves," Sturrup pointed out. "But he needed the money and boxing was the only way he knew how to earn a living legally and he fought on.

"And he faded from the fantastic specimen that once made Bahamians across the length and breath of this archipelago proud. The system failed Elisha Obed. Hopefully thought, the powers that be, would begin to recognize that this is indeed the moment in time to begin paying the deserved attention to the nation's sports ambassadors."

Winston Strachan, the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation, took it a bit further and stated that if justice is not done for Elisha Obed, the boxing fraternity will march to see that it is done because they have lost their only world champion.

"We hope and pray that the powers that be, will hear the call because we will be calling, we will be knocking on the doors. If you don't open the doors, we will kick it down. You must hear us and you must give Obed his rightful dues," said Strachan, who spoke on behalf of Wellington Miller, former president and former Bahamas Olympic Committee president, who was in Colombia for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games.

"If this was a court of law, I would have sentenced every government since 1973 guilty of what they had not done for this great man, a humble man, a friend of many. He would visit the gymnasiums encouraging those who were trying to get some recognition to fight on, work hard. We continued to appreciate the great things that he has done for all of us. But sadly to say, those who had the power and still have the power had not done anything, absolutely nothing for Elisha Obed."

Glennis Hanna, the PLP's Member of Parliament for Engleston, said she was happy to join the chorus in celebrating the life and legend of Elisha Obed, who only a few weeks ago buried his mother. She noted that his performance "defined the possible, which defied the odds and burst open the door for anything to be achieved.

"His professional career brought inspiration, which was brilliant and timely and inspired anew nation and a new generation, even though sadly, many in this new generation, don't even know his name and even though whether they know it or not, their own steps were embolden by his own audacity."

She said as a country, "we must stop saying that the story must be told. We must stop waiting on tomorrow. Today, the story of Elisha Obed, Everette Ferguson, must be em blazing in the national consciousness of our people. It is overdue." She said "we must lift our heroes and not seek to rewrite history. We have lost an incredible son."

Others giving tributes were Elisha Obed's brothers Dr Rollington Ferguson, Braman Darling-Ferguson and Vanwright Ferguson; Bishop Dr Moses A Johnson, Administrative National Overseer of the Church of God and lawyer and cousin Wallace Rolle.

The eulogy was done by Bishop Ross L. Davis and Elisha Obed's remains was interred in the Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

Only members of the boxing fraternity was present. There were no other sporting bodies recognized in the audience that included Director of Sports Timothy Munnings and former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel Johnson.