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Olympian Juliet Cuthbert (front) leads a host of persons viewing the body of former Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president, Howard Aris, during the thanksgiving service at the National Indoor Sports Centre yesterday. - Ian Allen photos
The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, and former dancehall queen, Carlene, at yesterday's thanksgiving service for former Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association boss Howard Aris. The service was held at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
HOWARD ROBERTSON ARIS, the man who presided over the most successful period in Jamaica's track and field history, was laid to rest at the Dovecot Memorial Park, St Catherine, yesterday.
Glowing tributes flowed at a thanksgiving service held at the National Indoor Sports Centre for the former Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president.
Aris, affectionately called 'Fudge', died on November 10 when he suffered a heart attack while on the General Election campaign trail with his long-time friend and confidant, Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller. He was 75.
Aris was revered for his knowledge and understanding of sport and for helping to establish Jamaica as the sprint capital of the world.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, in her tribute, said Aris had laid the foundation for a great track and field future for Jamaica.
"Because of the life he lived we can look forward to a successful track and field future and I urge us to use his life's work as a template for the development of sports, and the country as a whole," Grange added.
Aris' understanding of sports and his second love, politics, also saw him serving on numerous government bodies, including the Institute of Sports and Sports Development Foundation, which he helped to establish in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively. He was also chairman of both organisations.
"Howard was highly dedicated and committed to the development of sports as a vehicle for the development of our people," Leader of Opposition, Simpson Miller, said.
"That the service is being held inside the National Indoor Sports Centre is a tribute to the man. He was the one who encouraged the government of the day to build it, along with the urging of former Jamaica Netball Association president, Molly Rhone."
Dr Warren Blake, newly-installed president of the JAAA, who also read a message from the International Association of Athletics Federation president, Lamine Diack, said Aris' shoes will be hard to fill.
"He understood well the link between politics and sports which led to numerous national sporting accomplishments," said Blake. "He leaves very hard shoes to fill."
Neville 'Teddy' McCook, a former head of local track and field also paid tribute to his friend and former Kingston College teammate.
Aris is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Shannon and son Quentin.
Some of those who were in attendance included current athletes Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Shericka Williams Kaliese Spencer, Marvin Anderson and former stars Grace Jackson, Don Quarrie, Bert Cameron, Deon Hemmings, Juliet Cuthbert and Davian Clarke.
