The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

It was August 24th 1947 when in the heart of the valley on the island of New Providence a bouncing baby boy was born to the late Alpheus Finlayson, Sr, and Dianna Finlayson (nee Deveaux). They named him Alpheus Alexander Finlayson, Jr.

“Hawk” Finlayson as he was fondly called by family and friends grew up in Nassau and attended Eastern Junior and Senior School and Saint Augustine’s College (SAC) graduating in 1966. When the School was an all boy’s institution, Finlayson was one of the longest serving presidents of the Bahamas association of athletic association laying the foundation which allows us now to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

Finlayson made the history books in 1999 when he became the first Bahamian to be elected to the council of the twenty-seven member international federation (IAAF). Finlayson hosted a weekly show on track and field and published a local best seller on Bahamian track and field history. “Hawk” was definitely a nation builder and joined the Rotary Club. In 1982, being civic minded, he eventually became president of the Rotary Club of West Nassau, and earned a Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 1994.

Highlighting the depth of his services he later joined the first black Greek letter fraternity founded in 1904 in Philadelphia, USA. Alpheus eventually served as president from 2006-2008. Hawk wasn’t all work, he enjoyed dancing, listening to jazz music and travelling the world.

To his daughter, Alexis Hanna, and her husband, Khalid Hanna, and his brothers, Roosevelt Finlayson and my friend, Spence, I say although it is hard during these times, we will meet him again on that great getting up morning, so cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine.

LOXSLEY BASTIAN

Nassau,

October 11, 2023.