LAST Wednesday, scores of mourners came out in support their colleague, friend, father, former Jamaican athlete, coach and executive member of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association Ronald Archibald Horsham.

In tribute on behalf of the JAAA, president Howard Aris described Horsham, as a member who was honest in his judgement, always spoke his mind and was always clear in his thinking.

“When Ronald was a starter he sought not to disqualify anyone. He tried to reach out and share with others, what it is that they had done wrong. He had a sense of honesty, fairplay and values,” Aris said.

In the sole remembrance of Horsham, his son David, gracefully described his father as a good disciplinarian and an outstanding model.

“My father was very devoted and an excellent provider. The main role of my father’s life was to protect his family. He was very concerned of our environment and he would always ask mom ‘did you lock up the car and are the doors in the house closed’,” he laughed and said.

Raymond Furlow, brother-in-law of Horsham, in his tribute reminisced of the past when he first met Ronald. When Ronald begun courting his sister Ernestine, Horsham wife of more than 50 years.

“In 1959, Ronald became a part of our family. My mother, siblings and I were curious about this man and we wanted to get rid of him,” he said, “With me being a 9 year-old child, they sent me to follow him. My mother prepared me by saying, ‘he is from across the water and he talks funny’ and she called him ‘Run’ instead of ‘Ron’. He had come to take our jewel and we did not want to share her with anyone. Especially with someone from across the water,” Furlow said and engaged the mourners in laughter.

A former student of the Montego Bay Boys School, Horsham was active in track and field. He ran in the 100- and 200-metres for his school at the National Championships. He represented Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Cananda in 1954. Horsham later acquired a full athletic scholarship from Philander Smith College in the United States of America and later transfered to Arkansas State College.

He achieved a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry. This laid the foundation of him ultimately becoming employed, as an industrial chemistry technologist in New York, during the late 20th century.

Horsham and his wife returned to live in Jamaica in 1970. He has since coached several schools and ran his own business. Horsham served as starter, administrator and an executive member of the JAAA for over a decade.

Horsham died on October 25. He was 78 years-old. He leaves behind wife Ernestine, children, grandchildren other relatives and friends.

His remains will be cremated at a later date.