HUNDREDS of Calabar High School students, old boys and members of the local sporting fraternity turned out yesterday morning to pay tribute to the school's former athletics coach, legendary Jamaican Olympian Herb McKenley, whose body was available for viewing at the school for one hour prior to being moved to the National Arena.

McKenley, who died on November 26 at age 85, will be buried today at the National Heroes Park following the funeral service at the National Arena.

Three of Herb McKenley's children (from left) daughter Laura and sons Michael and Herb Jr spend an emotional moment with their late father, Herb McKenley, at a public viewing of the track legend's body inside the National Arena in Kingston yesterday. The late Olympian will be afforded a state funeral at the National Heroes' Park today. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Jamaica Olympic Association president Mike Fennell, Insports Executive Director Ian Andrews, Olympians Grace Jackson and Vilma Charlton, Calabar old boy and Independence Park Limited General Manager Major Desmon Brown, Head of UTech sports Dennis Johnson, and former Calabar High School athlete John Messam joined the full complement of Calabar students and teachers who made their way into the school's auditorium to pay tribute to the man who coached the athletics team for more than 30 years.

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports, the Honourable Olivia 'Babsy' Grange was also on hand to sign the condolence book, while inside the school hall a video detailing some of McKenley's achievements was being shown.

Members of the Calabar High cadet force kept vigil at the four points of McKenley's casket and afterwards a small choir sang "So hard to say good-bye" in tribute to the four-time Olympic medallist.

Herb McKenley's daughter Laura (centre) signs the condolence book at the National Arena yesterday watched by her brothers and their wives (from left) Herb McKenley Jnr and Tammy McKenley and Mr and Mrs Michael McKenley.

Acting school principal Jennifer Gordon, who was a teacher at the time of McKenley's tenure, told Sporting World that his contribution was more than just through sports.

"His (McKenley's) most outstanding achievement was his humility," she said. "He was so great but so humble, he was a people person... he put you at ease. He was able to fit into your world and he inspired you to achieve, but not at all costs - he was a very honest person."

Calabar athletics team coach Michael Clarke was among a group of old boys who was in the auditorium and told Sporting World it was an honour to be able to lead Calabar to their first ISSA Boys' Championships title in a decade in March, 10 years after McKenley coached the school to their last title in 1997.

"It is a tremendous blessing for me to provide for him which I know is very dear to him, the opportunity to see Calabar win again," Clarke said. "Somebody said to me last week why is it that I had prolonged the man's agony so long because I don't know if it's because we won why he passed on... it was said that is one of the things he wanted to see before he passed on."
McKenley's oldest child, daughter Laura, was also at the school and said the outpouring was heart-warming.

"I'm so proud of Calabar and I know how daddy felt... I know he loved Calabar and they're doing a wonderful job... I'm overwhelmed today when I see the tribute to him," she said.

McKenley's body was then police-escorted to the National Arena where well-wishers and members of the sporting fraternity were able to view it between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. There members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force kept vigil around the body and McKenley's four Olympic medals and national honours were also on display.

Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association president Howard Aris, who was also a friend of McKenley and a first vice-president of the JAAA during his reign in the early 1980s, said the official funeral and programme was one McKenley deserved because of the contribution he has made to Jamaican sport and life.

"Herb epitomises all the achievements and future of Jamaican sports, but he was the single most recognisable Jamaican in the wider world," he said.

There was only a trickle of visitors in the early hours of yesterday morning just after the viewing opened at the National Arena, but 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games silver medallist Gregory Haughton, who is in the island with his family on holiday, stopped by to pay his respects and sign the condolence book at the entrance to the facility.

"It is a real loss," he told Sporting World. "He taught me a lot... and I remember the first trip my mother took to the United States at the Atlanta Olympics was orchestrated by Mr McKenley, so there is a lot of love and respect and words cannot express the way I feel for that man, but I think he deserves every single thing that he gets."

Today's funeral service begins at 2:00 pm, but patrons are being asked to be seated inside the National Arena by 1:15 pm at which time a short cultural programme will take place.

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