FIVE ABACONIANS HONOURED

August 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

TWO ABACONIANS HONOURED

Five prominent Abaconians, Harcourt 'Rusty' Bethel, Patrick J Bethel, Roosevelt Curry, Rupert Roberts and Capt Leonard Thompson, were honoured in a Silver Jubilee Awards ceremony held at Government House on 10th July. All were members of a group of one hundred citizens, "a select group which had had a a major impact on the pace at which the country has developed and the course which is being followed."

Three of the recipients - Patrick Bethel, Roosevelt Curry and Capt Thompson - are current residents of Abaco. It was a happy coincidence that Mr Bethel and Capt Thompson are fast friends and often start the day by walking and talking together to keep their bodies and minds in trim. The following are the programme comments on these distinguished gentlemen in alphabetical order:

Patrick J Bethel , a veteran educator, was born in Cherokee Sound, Abaco, where he received his early education. At age 17, he went to Green Turtle Cay where he was an assistant teacher from 1951 to 1952. In 1953 he returned to Cherokee Sound and served as principal at the public school until 1954. From there he moved to Hope Town, serving as principal from 1954 to 1958. After having furthered his studies in Great Britain between 1958 and 1960, he returned to The Bahamas and started the Lake City All-Age School, where he remained for six months before going to Harbour Island All-Age School to work as principal from 1961 to 1963. Mr Bethel left for Scotland for further studies, then returned to The Bahamas in 1965 to accept the post of principal of The Bahamas Teachers' College, where he remained for 12 years. He then moved to the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and retired in August 1977 as Deputy Director of Education.

Now residing in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Mr Bethel is a businessman with interests in insurance, real estate and travel.

Roosevelt Curry of Grand Cay, Abaco, started out in the fishing business in 1988 buying lobster, conch and scale fish from fishermen in Grand Cay and selling to various businesses in Freeport, Nassau and Marsh Harbour.

Presently, Mr Curry buys seafood from 60 local fishing boats and sells between 600,000 and 700,000 pounds of seafood product each year, including between 250,000 and 300,000 pounds of lobster each season. In addition, Mr Curry, a dedicated and consummate worker, is a restaurateur and motel owner in Grand Cay.

Captain Leonard Thompson, OBE , a former Member of Parliament and retired Abaco resort developer, founded the Treasure Cay Beach Resort. The resort, the largest in the Family Islands, consists of over 600 residences and hundreds of condominiums and villas, and provides employment for residents of North Abaco. Capt Thompson also built the Great Abaco Beach Hotel in Marsh Harbour. He has since sold both resorts.

Capt Thompson entered politics in 1949, successfully contesting the general election that year as an Independent candidate. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1956, 1962 and 1967. He retired in 1968. During his 19 years in politics, Capt Thompson was known as an independent thinker.

Capt Thompson used his contacts as a Member of Parliament to promote the development of the second home market in Abaco. He was also instrumental in the development of Spanish Cay and Walkers Cay, and in getting the National Container Corporation to invest in the pulp business in Abaco. The company was later absorbed by Owens Illinois.

Capt Thompson was born in Hope Town, Abaco, where he received his education. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained first as a mechanic, then as a bomber pilot. He fought in World War II at age 23 and flew 24 complete bombing missions over Germany. He was shot down over Germany on his 25th mission and taken prisoner by the Germans. He spent 16 months in Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp and was released by the Russians during the invasion of Germany. Following the war, Capt Thompson returned to The Bahamas and was offered a job by Bahamas Airways. He returned to Canada for his pilot's licence and flew several years for Bahamas Airways before starting his own business, Skyways.

Capt Thompson is now retired and resides with his wife, Mary, in Marsh Harbour.

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