Devon Dick
ADRIAN WALLACE, at his funeral service at Stella Maris Church, was remembered as a humble, professional, people person.
Adrian served as president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association from 1996-2000 and was the main motivator for the successful bid in 1997 for the World Junior Championships to be staged in Jamaica. All who attended the Games would have been impressed with the precision and professionalism displayed by local volunteers. The Honourable Mike Fennell, president of Jamaica Olympic Association, and also the Commonwealth Games, in his tribute stated that the World Junior Games was, according to the IAAF, 'the best ever'.
Naturally, it was the best ever for Jamaicans for another reason in that Usain Bolt was catapulted on to the world arena with a blistering run to be the youngest 200m winner.
Unfortunately, that interna-tional achievement of Adrian Wallace has not received its due recognition. But he should not worry because the inconsistency in the awarding of national honours is consistent. There is a statue of Donald Quarrie and he does not have an OJ or OM. Quarrie, who has been lionised in Ernie Smith's song 'Duppy or Gunman', should have received the OJ long before the erection of a statue.
WHAT HAS THE WICB DONE?
Sandie Richards, a veteran athlete, spoke about Adrian Wallace's concern for athletes' welfare as being of paramount importance. This is really rare for an administrator of a sporting body to give priority to the total well-being of sports persons. No one could accuse the West Indies Cricket Board of putting the cricketers' welfare as its number one priority. Time and time again they have uncere-moniously dismissed captains of the cricket team.
They would send a third-eleven team on tour rather than negotiate a decent package with the cricketers. Cable and Wireless and Digicel, through advertisements in the media, have hailed Brian Lara as the leading rungetter in the history of Test Cricket and what has the WICB done?
Those who are seeking power and wanting to retain power in the Jamaica Football Federation could learn a thing or two from Adrian Wallace. Adrian never sought the spotlight, but was an able and efficient administrator who supported athletes. According to one of the tributes, Adrian Wallace supported Merlene Ottey in her bid to clear her name of drug use. How does that compare with the JFF's treatment of Onandi Lowe? When the athletes unfortunately publicly protested against Merlene Ottey representing us at the Sydney Olympics, he took full responsibility because he knew where the buck stopped. What a sports administrator! He must be smiling in his grave
to know that tomorrow a statue will be unveiled in honour of Merlene.
ONE MAN EPITOMISING HUMILITY
I also remember Adrian Wallace during the time he served on the Calabar High School Board of Governors. He would willingly examine the statement of accounts whenever he was asked. He did his duty with diligence and probity. He knew how to deal with difficult bursars. I know he would be happy to hear that Leighton McKnight, president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, announced on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the ICAJ that the Institute has offered to the Ministry of Education to upgrade the skills of the bursars free of cost.
Long-time friend, Rev Gervais Clarke, remembered Adrian as genteel and trustworthy; CEO of GraceKennedy, Douglas Orane, considered him as meticulous and solution-oriented and co-worker James Moss Solomon remembered his old cars. Adrian was not into the bling. He who was a senior manager and board member of GraceKennedy drove old cars and these were not vintage cars. They were simply old.
Adrian was one man epitomising humility, kindness and profes-sionalism. No wonder his nephew called him 'perfect'.
Let us remember Adrian Wallace as an outstanding son of the soil and may that memory inspire hope for June, his wife; his sons and all well-wishers as we face the New Year.
Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation-Building'.
