Herb McKenley expressed deep humility and gratitude upon his induction into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame during a historic ceremony in Jamaica. Standing alongside legends like George Headley and Arthur Wint, McKenley acknowledged the profound influence these figures had on his early ambitions. He reflected on his childhood dream of emulating Headley in cricket and his inspiration from Wint to pursue athletics. McKenley encouraged Jamaica’s youth to embrace hard work, dedication, and discipline, hoping they, too, would strive for greatness and emulate the achievements of these sports icons.

Published Saturday, October, 1975

Local sportsmen inducted into Black Athletes Hall of Fame

Gleaner Sports Reporter

Jamaica’s cricket immortal George Headley, Dr Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley, outstanding quartermilers, and Lindy Delapenha, former football ace, were inducted into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame of USA in a brief ceremony during the ATP Nations Cup Tourney at the National Arena on Thursday night.

Barbadian Sir Garfield Sobers, who was also named to the Hall of Fame, was not present for the ceremony. Named posthumously to the Hall of Fame are two other West Indians cricketers, the late Sir Frank Worrell and Lord Learie Constantine.

Thursday night’s induction was the first international ceremony of its kind outside of the United States.

The inscription on the plaques to the four men reads “in recognition, honour, appreciation of his outstanding contribution and achievement in the world of sports”.

In an acceptance speech, McKenley said it was an honour to be in such illustrious company as George Headley and Arthur Wint, two men who had inspired his younger days.

McKenley said, in the days when he played backyard cricket, he wanted to be as good as Headley and it was on seeing Wint, a Calabar old boy as himself, in his Jamaica uniform that he decided he wished to represent Jamaica in athletics. It was with great humility that he stood “in the company of these stalwarts”.

He went on to say that Delapenha was no less a “truly great sportsman” although he, McKenley, had not been inspired to become a footballer.

He hoped that young sportsmen and women in Jamaica would look at the evening as something to emulate and achieve. He impressed on the young sportsmen the necessity for “hard work and dedication coupled with discipline”.

The Hall of Fame made two special presentations. The first was to Reynolds which was received jointly by the treasurer of the company, William Reynolds Jr, and the general manager Kirby Harrison. The certificate of appreciation to the company which sponsored the tennis tourney came directly from New York and in part read “in tribute to meritorious service in sport”.

The other was to Prime Minister Michael Manley and was received on his behalf by the chairman of National Sports Williams Isaacs. The inscription on the prime minister’s award read in part “in recognition of your many contributions to the world of sports and human relation and participation …”.

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